Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Feb 6: Veteran Kannada poet, writer, scholar and critic, Sa Shi Marulaiah (85), breathed his last on Friday February 5. He was suffering from lung infection since sometime.
Marulaiah had been admitted recently into Jayadeva Hospital in the city for treatment. He is survived by wife and three children. As per his wishes, Marulaiah's body and eyes were donated to J S S Medical College at Mysuru.
Before the body was handed over, it was kept at Kannada Sahitya Parishat premises for some time to enable people to pay homage. Later, it was moved to his residence at Hampi Nagara here. Veteran writers like Chidanandamurty, G S Siddalingaiah, Go Ru Channabasappa, S G Siddaramaiah, Prema Bhat, former minister, Suresh Kumar, Hamsalekha, retired IAS officer, Shivaram, and several Swamijis visited the venue and had the last glimpse of the mortal remains.
Born on January 18, 1931, at Sasalu village in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk, Tumakuru district, Marulaiah completed higher education at Mysuru. He got his BA (hons) degree from Maharaja College under the guidance of stalwarts like Kuvempu, D L Narasimhachar, De Jaware Gowda, S V Parameshwar Bhatta etc, before completing MA in Kannada there in 1958. He later got his PhD from Karnatak University.
After serving as college teacher at various places, he functioned as director at the department of translation during the fag end of his career. He worked as honorary secretary and president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat. He also had discharged duties as chairman of Karnataka State Language Commission.
Marulaiah had worked in all forms of literature like lyrics, epic poetry, dance drama, play, translation, prosody, grammar, novels, small stories, biography and others. He had won several awards for his creations. He had undertaken the work of training candidates to write IAS examinations in Kannada. For sometime, he had also worked as the principal of the Government College Mangaluru.
A large number of poets, writers, dignitaries, leaders and others have mourned the demise of this highly talented Kannada visionary.