Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Dec 24: Retired professor, senior theatre personality and litterateur Prof Ramadas (86) passed away due to illness on December 23. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
A native of Ucchila village in Kaup taluk, Ramadas, due to poverty, completed his SSLC and later joined as a supplier at Indrabhavan Hotel in Mysuru. There, he got an opportunity to pursue his studies and, while working full-time and studying part-time, secured his BA degree in first class in 1964 and went on to complete his MA degree with the Vice-Chancellor’s Gold Medal.
Ramadas began his professional career as a lecturer at Vijay College, Mulki, in 1966. From 1969 until his retirement, he served as a Kannada professor at Poornaprajna College, Udupi.
He developed an interest in village theatre from a young age and actively participated in stage plays. He grew as an actor and director, portraying notable roles such as Tughlaq in Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq, Oedipus in Oedipus, Ashwatthama in Andhayuga, and Hiranyadhanu in Govinda Pai’s Hebberalu. He was associated with hundreds of theatre productions on All India Radio and was connected with theatre groups such as Samuha and Rangabhoomi. He acted in plays including Kumararama, Banje, Sankranti, Harakeya Kuri and Taledanda, and directed plays such as Naayikate, Taledanda and Jokumara Swamy.
His literary contributions include seven poetry collections such as Bhasmasura, Haadu-Paadu and Ritagita Amruta; novels including Ivalu, Kartaarana Kammaata and Muktaprema; short story collections like Sedu and Hattu Kathegalu; about 15 one-act plays including Gunda Bhattana Khandi Angadi and Kaalalabdhi. His translations include Thomasna Gospels, J K Upanyasagalu, Sakharam Binder, the Kannada translation of the Bhagavad Gita, and the rural-language translation of Kumaravyasa Bharata. His critical works include Bhoomigeeta Kaavyapravesha, Adhyayana, Ranga-Antaranga and Chintana. In all, he authored more than 40 works.
Prof Ramadas was the recipient of several awards and honours, including the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award, Kadengodlu Kavya Award, Muddana Kavya Award, Ramavittula Award of Pejavara Mutt, Karnataka Nataka Academy Award, Udupi Rangabhoomi Award, Ugrana Award, Perla Kavya Award and the Karnataka Nataka Academy Fellowship. He also served as the president of the Udupi Taluk Kannada Sahitya Sammelana.
The management, principal, teaching and non-teaching staff of Poornaprajna College have expressed their condolences over the demise of Prof Ramadas.