Early life
Origins
T. V. Venkatachala Sastry was born on 26 August 1933 at Harohalli village in Kanakapura taluk ofEducation
Sastry had his primary schooling at Kanakapura nearCareer
Osmania University
Sastry began his career as a lecturer at Kanakapura rural college in 1955. He moved to St. Joseph's College,University of Mysore
Under the guidance of his former teacher and mentor D. L. Narasimhachar and H. M. Nayak, Sastry pursued his doctoral work on ''A Comparative Study of Kannada Neminathapuranas'' and earned his PhD by 1972. Two years later, he was made a Reader in the Kannada department and remained there until 1984 when he was elevated to the post of Professor. He continued as Professor for the next decade until his retirement in 1994. For the last few years of his tenure, he was given additional responsibilities as Director of Institute of Kannada Studies (1991 - 1993) and as Dean of Arts (1992 - 1993). Post-retirement, Sastry was visiting Professor in 1997 at Kannada University, Hampi.Institute of Kannada Studies, Mysore
University of Mysore's Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe's prominent publications such as ''"Kannada Sahitya Charitre"'', ''"Kannada Chandassina Charithre"'', ''"Kannada Vishaya Viswakosha"'', and ''" Epigraphia Carnatica"'' owe a great deal to Sastry's erudition, perseverance and steadfast administrative acumen. His skills as an editor helped assemble and streamline many of these volumes in addition to several felicitation volumes for eminent personalities.Literary contribution
Sastry's writings span over four decades and number in excess of 100. They encompass topics such as the history of Kannada literature, prosody, literary criticism, Kannada grammar, Kannada poetry, dictionary writing and editing, editing, and translations. He was the first to offer an elaborate discussion on Devachandra's ''Rajavalikathe'' and Kempunarayana's ''Mudra Manjusha'', and his PhD attracted considerable attention in literary circles. He has authored close to seven works on Grammar, six on Prosody, two on Aesthetics, six different dictionaries on various subjects, 24 studies on Literary Criticism and Research studies, eleven biographies, twenty two edited volumes and prose works, four translations and four bibliographies. In addition to these, he has penned four plays and four collections of essays. Various articles were collectively brought out in ten volumes under the title of ''Śāstrīya: Samputagalu 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6'' which was published in 1999. As an editor Sastry has led such projects as ''History of Kannada Literature'' (Mysore University), ''Revision and Reprint of Epigraphia Carnatica'', ''Kannada Dictionary Project of Kannada Sahitya Parishat'', ''Anthology of Ancient Literature'', ''Revision and Prose Translation of Kumaravyasa Bharata'' by Kannada Gamaka Parishat and publication of ''Complete Jaina Literature'' by Kannada University, Hampi. Significant among the scholars who came to him were Prof Laurie Honke (Finland), Prof Showman (Canada), Prof Karl Johanssen (U.S.A), Prof Sefan Anacker (Switzerland) and the Indologist Prof Sheldon Pollock (U.S.A).Research and literary criticism
*1972 - ''Sāhitya Manthana'' *1973 - ''Kannaḍa Nēminatha Purāṇagaḷa Taulanika Adhyayana'' *1974 - ''Chamundaraya'' *1979 - ''Shabdarthavihara'' *1980 - ''Jaina Bhagavatha Bharathagalu: Ondu Sameekshe'' *1981 - ''Prācīna Kannaḍa Sāhitya, Kelavu Nōṭagaḷu'' *1981 - ''Muru Sameekshegalu'' *1982 - ''Hosagannada Sahitya: Kelavu Notagalu'' *1983 - ''Namma Karnataka'' *1983 - ''Pampa'' *1991 - ''Haleya Honnu'' *1999 - ''Śāstrīya: Samputagalu 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6'' *2000 - ''Mulakanāḍu Brāhmaṇaru: Samudāya, Saṃskrti'' *2007 - ''Kanakapura Emba Kānakāna Haḷḷiya Charitre'' *2009 - ''Kannaḍa abhijāta sāhitya : adhyayanada avakāśagaḷu, ahvānagaḷu''Grammar
*1990 - ''Hosagannadada Vyakarana'' *1994 - ''Keshirajavirachita Shabdamanidarpanam'' *1997 - ''Keshirajavirachita Shabdamanidarpanam'' *2001 - ''Darpaṇavivaraṇ''aPoetry
*1969 - ''Mahakavyalakshana'' *1987 - ''Kannaḍa Citrakāvya: Svarūpa, Itihāsa, Vimarśe''Plays
*1966 - ''Baddha Prometheus (Greek Original – " Prometheus Bound" by Sophocles)'' *1971 - ''Prosody
*1970 - ''Kannaḍa Chandassu'' *1978 - ''Kannada Chandahswarupa'' *1989 - ''Kannaḍa Chandōvihāra'' *2003 - ''Kannada Chandomimamse'' *2007 - ''Chandombudhi'' *2013 - ''Kannaḍa Chandaḥkōśa''Lexicography
*1971 - ''Śrīvatsa nighaṇṭu'' *1977 - ''Kannada Ratnakosha'' *1994 - ''Gajashastrashabdakosha'' *2004 - ''Granthasampadhana Paribhashakosha''Biographies
*1980 - ''Mahamahopadhyaya R. Shamasastry'' *1983 - ''Rao Bahadur M. Shama Rao'' *1985 - ''Sahitya Shilpigalu'' *1995 - ''Editorship
*1971 - ''Kavyasanchaya – Part 1'' (Co-edited with others) *1973 - ''Srikanthika: Prof S. Srikanta Sastri Felicitation Volume'' *1974 - ''Kannada Adhyayana Samstheya Kannada Sahitya Charitre Samputa 1 – 5'' *1973–1993 - ''Epigraphia Carnatica'' *1975 - ''Samshodhana Lekhanagalu – S. Srikanta Sastri'' (Co-edited with others) *1970–1975 - ''Prabhuddha Karnataka'' *1976–1995 - ''Kannada Sahitya Parishattina Kannada Nighantu'' *1978 - ''Kavyasanchaya – Part 2'' (Co-edited with others) *1978–79 - ''Karnataka: Kannada Vishaya Viswakosha'' *1982–92 - ''Karnataka Lochana'' *1983 - ''Swasthi – T. S. Shamarayara Felicitation Volume'' *1986 - ''Prakthana – R. Narasimhacharyara Lekhanagalu, Bashanagalu'' *1986 - ''Prof D. L. Narasimhacharyara Rudranatakopanyasagalu'' *1986 - ''S. G. Narasimhacharyara Kavithegalu'' *1987 - ''Gamaka Manjusha'' *1987 - ''Chamarasa'' (Co-edited with others) *1988 - ''Gadya Kusumanjali'' (Co-edited with others) *1988 - ''Bahubhashika Nighantu Yojane'' – Asian Studies Association (Chennai) *1990 - ''Kannada Kavigalu Kanda Gommateshwara'' *1991 - ''Anukarana Gita Lahari'' *1991 - ''Kannada Chennudi'' *1991 - ''Kavyavahini: Dasara Kavisammelanada Kavanagalu'' *1992 - ''Kavyasriranga: Dasara Kavisammelanada Kavanagalu'' *1992 - ''Alauddin mathu Adbuthadeepa'' *1992 - ''Janapriya Prachinasahityamale'' *1993 - ''Prakrit Adhyayana Mathu Samshodhana Rashtriya Samsthe'' *1993 - ''Rashtriya Viswakosha Kendra – Bhubaneswar'' *1993 - ''Prachina Bharatiya Sahitya Sankalana Yojane'' *1995 - ''Abhijnana – Dr. K. Krishnamurthy Felicitation Volume'' *1995 - ''Pampakavi Virachitam Aadipuranam – S. G. Narasimhachar'' *1998 - ''Kannada Sahitya Parishathina Kannada–Kannada–English Nighantu (1)'' *1999 - ''Mudramanjusha'' *2000 - ''Mulukanadu Mahaniyara Granthamale'' *2001 - ''Mysore Mulukanadu Sabha (R) & Mulukanadu Charitable Trust'' *2001 - ''Dr A. Venkatasubbaiahanavara Samshodhana Lekhanagalu'' *2002 - ''Mulukanadu Siri'' *2003 - ''Kannada Kavyagala Alankaragalu – Kannada Sahitya Parishathu'' *2003 - '' Siribhuvalaya'' *2005 - ''Kavyajinashtakagalu'' *2006 - ''Boppannapanditana Gommatajinendra Gunastavam'' *2007 - ''Pampasamputa'' *2008 - ''Karyakarisamithi Sadasya – B. M. Sri Smaraka Pratishthana''Translations
*1986 - ''Vedam Venkataraya Sastri'' *1987 - ''Harivamshapuranasaara'' *2002 - ''Karnaparyana Neminatha Purana Kathasaara'' *2002 - ''Ardhanemi Purana Kathasara, Vastu Vimarshe''Essays
*1975 - ''Kavyachitragalu'' *1982 - ''Saddentembara Ganda'' *1990 - ''Melugāḷiya Mātugaḷu: Tombattu Cintanegaḷu'' *2002 - ''Udāracaritaru Udāttaprasaṅgagaḷu''Bibliographical work
*1966 - ''A Descriptive Catalogue of Kannada Manuscripts in the Osmania University Library'' (Co-edited) *1978 - ''A Bibliography of Karnataka Studies – Vol I'' *1997 - ''A Bibliography of Kannada Ramayana'' *1998 - ''A Bibliography of Karnataka Studies - Vol II''Recognition
Sastry's vast contribution to Kannada Literature has been acknowledged with several awards and accolades. He is also recipient of the "Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award" (Honorary) for 1997. He presided over the Dharmasthala Literary Festival in 2002. Some of the prominent awards are listed here. * "Kannada Chandassu" (Kannada Sahitya Akademi) (1970) * "Kannada Chitrakavya" (Kannada Sahitya Akademi) (1987) * "Kannada Chandovihara" (Kannada Sahitya Akademi) (1989) * "Karnataka State Devaraja Bahadur Award" (1972) * "Mysore Viswavidhyalaya Suvarnamahotsava Award" (1978) * "Mysore Viswavidhyalaya T. N. Srikantaiah Smaraka Award" (1978) * "Dharwad Vidhyavardhaka Sangha Award" (1978) * "Karnataka State Devaraja Bahadur Award" (1978) * "Mysore Viswavidhyalaya T. N. Srikantaiah Smaraka Award" (1986) * Mysore 'Granthaloka' Newspaper "Writer of the year" Award (1987) * "Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award" for best written work (1987) * "I.B.H Sikhsana Trust, Mumbai Award" (1987) * "University of Mysore Golden Jubilee Award" (1987) * "Kannada Sahitya Parishathina Vajramahotsava Award" (1977) * "Karnataka State Award" (1988) * Felicitation from "S. B. Joshi Vicharavedike" (1994) * Award for lifetime contribution from Shravanabelagola Vidyapeeta (1996) * Honorary Award from "Karnataka Sahitya Akademi" (1997) * "Sediyapu" Award, Udupi (1998) * "Chidananda" Award, Bangalore (2001) * "Bhashasamman" Award from Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (2002) * "S. B. Joshi" Award, Karnataka Sangha, Shimoga (2003) * "Chavundaraya" Award, Kannada Sahitya Parishath (2003) * "Alvas Nudisiri Award", Moodabidri (2005) * "Sri Krishna" Award from Pejawar Mutt Swamiji (2006) * "Aryabhatta" Award, Bangalore (2006) * "Masti" Award, Bangalore (2008) (''pictured'') * "Pampa" Award for Lifetime Contribution (2008) * Nadoja Award, Kannada University, Hampi (2022)Legacy
Sastry currently resides in Mysore, India with his wife Venkatalakshmi and devotes his time to writing, reviewing, editing and critiquing literary works. As part of his felicitation for lifetime contribution to Kannada language and literature, two festschrift volumes "Srimukha" & "Kannada Meru" were presented. Sanskrit scholar Sheldon Pollock called him "greatest living scholar in the field of old Kannada".References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sastry, T. V. Venkatachala 1933 births Kannada-language writers Kannada people Writers from Bangalore Living people 20th-century Indian translators 20th-century Indian journalists Indian editors 21st-century Indian journalists 20th-century Indian essayists 20th-century Indian biographers 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights