Ganjam Venkatasubbiah (23 August 1913 – 19 April 2021), also known as G. V., was a

Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...

writer, grammarian, editor,

lexicographer Lexicography is the study of lexicons, and is divided into two separate academic disciplines. It is the art of compiling dictionaries. * Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. * Theoretica ...

, and critic who compiled over eight dictionaries, authored four seminal works on dictionary science in Kannada, edited over sixty books, and published several papers. Recipient of the Kannada Sahitya Akademi Award and the Pampa Award, Venkatasubbiah's contribution to the world of Kannada

Lexicography Lexicography is the study of lexicons, and is divided into two separate academic disciplines. It is the art of compiling dictionaries. * Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. * Theoreti ...

is vast. His work ''Igo Kannada'' is a socio-linguistic dictionary which encompasses an eclectic mix of Kannada phrases, usages, idioms, and serves as a reference for linguists and sociologists alike. Venkatasubbiah is best known for his work on Kannada dictionary science titled ''Kannada Nighantu Shastra Parichaya''. This came out exactly one hundred years after a Kannada-English dictionary was authored by the German priest and Indologist Reverend

Ferdinand Kittel Reverend Ferdinand Kittel was a Lutheran priest and indologist with the Basel Mission in south India and worked in Mangalore, Madikeri and Dharwad in Karnataka. He is most famous for his studies of the Kannada language and for producing a Kannada ...

in 1894. This work became an addition to a tradition of dictionary writing in Kannada known for at least thousand years starting with first available Rannakanda.

Early life and education

Venkatasubbiah was born on 23 August 1913. His father Ganjam Thimmanniah was a renowned Kannada and Sanskrit scholar. He was instrumental in inspiring in Venkatasubbiah a love for old Kannada. His primary schooling was spread out across the towns of

Bannur Bannur is a municipality in Mysore district (ಮೈಸೂರು) in the state of Karnataka, India. Geography Bannur is located at . It has an average elevation of 654 metres (2145 feet). T Narasipura Taluk Near Somanathapur Temple pin ...

and

Madhugiri Madhugiri is a city in Tumkur district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The city derives its name from a hillock, Madhu-giri (honey-hill) which lies to its south. Madhugiri is one of the 34 educational districts of the Karnataka state. Geogr ...

in the south Indian state of

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

. The second child in a family of eight, Venkatasubbiah had to follow his father from town to town as he frequently kept getting transferred in his Government job. By the early 1930s, Venkatasubbiah's family relocated to city of Mysore where he joined Yuvaraja college for his intermediate course where he came under the influence of

K. V. Puttappa Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa (29 December 1904 – 11 November 1994), popularly known by his pen name Kuvempu, was an Indian poet, playwright, novelist and critic. He is widely regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century. He was ...

(''Kuvempu''). Venkatasubbiah then joined the Maharaja College at Mysore to pursue his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree. His chosen subjects included Ancient History, Sanskrit and old Kannada among others. Here he came under the tutelage of T. S. Venkannaiah who taught ''

Pampa Bharata ''Vikramarjuna Vijaya'' (Kannada- ವಿಕ್ರಮಾರ್ಜುನ ವಿಜಯ) (''victory of the mighty Arjuna''), also known as Pampa Bharatha is a classic work of the 10th century Jain poet Pampa (902–975 AD). It is a Kannada versio ...

'', D. L. Narasimhachar who taught ''Editorial Science'',

T. N. Srikantaiah Theerthapura Nanjundaiah Srikantaiah ( kn, ತೀರ್ಥಪುರ ನಂಜುಂಡಯ್ಯ ಶ್ರೀಕಂಠಯ್ಯ) (26 November 1906 – 7 September 1966) commonly known as 'Thee. Nam. Shree. (ತೀ. ನಂ. ಶ್ರೀ.), was a ...

who taught ''Kavyamimamse'' and

S. Srikanta Sastri Sondekoppa Srikanta Sastri (5 November 1904 – 10 May 1974) was an Indian historian, Indologist, and polyglot. He authored around 12 books, over two hundred articles, several monographs and book reviews over four decades in English, Kannada, ...

who taught ''Karnataka History''. Venkatasubbiah completed his M. A. between 1936–38 and was recipient of the University Gold Medal.

Academician

Venkatasubbiah taught English at Municipal High School, Mandya and Bangalore High School, Bangalore before joining Vijaya College as faculty in the Kannada department. During these years, Venkatasubbiah inspired his friend and colleague Ramachandra Sharma to publish his collection of Kannada poetry in a book form. This was brought out under the title of ''Hrudayageethe'' with a preface by

Gopalakrishna Adiga Mogeri Gopalakrishna Adiga (1918–1992) was a modern Kannada poet. He is known by some commentators as the "pioneer of New style" poetry. The Hindu - 26 September 2002 Biography He was born in an orthodox brahmin family in coastal village of ...

and

S. R. Ekkundi Subbanna R. Ekkundi (1923–1995) was a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, National Aaward for Teacher and Soviet Land Award. Ekkundi was born in Ranebennur of Haveri district in the year 1923. His father was Ranganath and mother was Rajakka. ...

. At Vijaya College, he is remembered for starting the student magazine ''Utsaha''. He served at that college as a Lecturer, Professor and Principal before retiring. He was actively involved in the Mysore University Academic Council and Private College Teachers' Association during these years.

Literary contributions

Venkatasubbiah has compiled more than 10 dictionaries, including an eight-volume Kannada-Kannada Nighantu (Dictionary). This dictionary has also been translated to the

Braille Braille (Pronounced: ) is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired, including people who are blind, deafblind or who have low vision. It can be read either on embossed paper or by using refreshable braille disp ...

language by the Braille Transcription Centre of the Canara Bank Relief and Welfare Society. He has been writing the column, ''Igo Kannada'' for over a decade in the Kannada daily ''

Prajavani ''Prajavani'' (Kannada:''Voice of the People'') is a leading Kannada-language broadsheet daily newspaper published in Karnataka, India. Having a readership of over 2.01 million, it is one of the largest circulated newspapers in the state. His ...

''. The articles published in ''Igo Kannada'' have been compiled into a book in four volumes. It is a social dictionary which encompasses an eclectic mix of Kannada phrases, usages, idioms and phrases. He has also authored a dictionary entitled ''Klishtapada Kosha'' (a dictionary of complex Kannada words) which was released to mark the Suvarna Karnataka (Silver Jubilee of the formation of Karnataka). It is the first of its kind in Kannada language which covers different language specifications such as derivation,

punctuation Punctuation (or sometimes interpunction) is the use of spacing, conventional signs (called punctuation marks), and certain typographical devices as aids to the understanding and correct reading of written text, whether read silently or aloud. An ...

phoneme In phonology and linguistics, a phoneme () is a unit of sound that can distinguish one word from another in a particular language. For example, in most dialects of English, with the notable exception of the West Midlands and the north-wes ...

and morphological patterns of

language as the language has evolved over the centuries. Venkatasubbaiah is remembered for his work on Kannada dictionary science titled ''Kannada Nighantu Shastra Parichaya'' which came out exactly one hundred years after the first Kannada dictionary was authored by the German priest and Indologist Reverend

in 1894. Between 1964 - 1969, while at the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (Kannada Literary Centre), he had the distinction of being its youngest president. As President, he was instrumental in increasing the society's financial grants from the Government. He was chief editor of the 'Kannada - Kannada Dictionary' project. He was involved in Kannada Encyclopaedia Project, Sahitya Sammelana (Literary Fest) at

Karwar Karwar is a seaside city, ''taluka'', and administrative headquarters of Uttara Kannada district lying at the mouth of the Kali river on the Kanara coast of Karnataka state, India. Karwar is a popular tourist destination and with a city urba ...

and

Shravanabelagola Shravanabelagola () is a town located near Channarayapatna of Hassan district in the Indian state of Karnataka and is from Bengaluru. The Gommateshwara Bahubali statue at Shravanabelagola is one of the most important tirthas (pilgrimage de ...

and as the Editor of Kannada Sahitya Parishat's monthly magazine ''Kannada Nudi''. He has served as the vice-president of the Lexicographical Association of India for 17 years. In 1998, he was appointed an advisor to the multilingual dictionary project of the Institute of Asian Studies, Chennai, which comprises

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

and

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

. He was also appointed a consultative committee member in the Telugu lexicon project initiated by the Telugu Academy of the Government of

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

. He was the First President of Bidar District 1st Kannada Sahitya Sammelana (Kannada Literary Festival) held in the year 1974. He was honoured with the Presidency of 77th Akhila Bharata

Kannada Sahitya Sammelana The Kannada Sahitya Sammelana () is the premier gathering of writers, poets and Kannadigas. It is held with the aim of preserving and developing the Kannada language, its literature, art, culture and music. It was started in 1915 by H. V. Nanj ...

(All India Kannada Literary Meet) held at Bangalore on 2011.

Lexicography

* ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1975)'' - Kannada – Kannada Concise Dictionary * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1981)'' – Kannada – Kannada – English Dictionary * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1993)'' – Kannada Nighantu Shastra Parichaya * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1996)'' – Muddanna Padaprayoga Kosha * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1998)'' – Patrika Padakosha * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1998)'' – Eravalu Padakosha (Borrowed words in Kannada) * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1996 - 2013)'' – Igo Kannada (1) – Sociolinguistic Dictionary * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2001 – 2013)'' – Igo Kannada (2) – Sociolinguistic Dictionary * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2009 – 2013)'' – Igo Kannada (3) – Sociolinguistic Dictionary * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2001)'' – Prof G. V.’s Prism English – Kannada Dictionary * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2003)'' – Kannada Nighantu Parivara * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2006)'' – Kannada Klishtapada Kosha * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2010)'' – Shabda mathu artha * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2012)'' – Kannada Lexicography and other articles

Literary criticism and history of Kannada literature

* ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1942)'' – Nayasena * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1952)'' – College Translation * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1954)'' – Translations Lessons (1) * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1954)'' – Translations Lessons (2) * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1954)'' – Translations Lessons (3) * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1957)'' – Anukalpane * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1968)'' – Kannada Shashana Parichaya * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1978)'' – Kannada Sahitya Nadedubanda Dari * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1986)'' – Prof. T. S. Venkannayya * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1996)'' – D. V. Gundappa * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1999)'' - Kannaḍavannu Uḷisidavaru * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1999)'' – Kannadavannu Ulisi Belisidavaru * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2000)'' – Sahitya mathu Shikshana * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2000)'' – Kannadada Nayakamanigalu * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2002)'' – Inuku Nota * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2003)'' – Karnataka Vaibhava * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2003)'' – Paramarshana * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2003)'' – Kavya Chinthana * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2003)'' – Seelunota * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2006)'' – Margadarshakaru * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2007)'' – Gatiprajne * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2008)'' – Samaya Sandarbha Sannivesha * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2010)'' – Kumaravyasana antaranga – Yudha Panchakadalli * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2011)'' – Sarigannada Sarasvaturu * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2011)'' – Kavya Chinthana mathu Jivana Manthana * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2011)'' – G. V. Vichara Vihara * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2011)'' – Ondishtu Ramayana Ondishtu Mahabharata * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2013)'' – Purana Kathavaliya Ganjam Thimmannayya

Editorial work

* ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1964)'' – Kannada Rathna Parichaya * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1966)'' – Nalachampu Sangraha * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1966)'' – Akrura Charithreya Sangraha * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1966)'' – Karna Karnamruta * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1968)'' – Kavya Lahiri * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1970)'' – Kavya Samputa * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1987)'' – Muddanna Bhandara, Part 1 * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1987)'' – Muddanna Bhandara, Part 2 * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1991)'' – Tamilu Kathegalu * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1991)'' – Telugu Kathegalu * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1991)'' – Malayalam Kathegalu * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1991)'' – Kannada Kathegalu * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1993)'' – Iruvatu Kannada Cherukathakal (Malayalam) * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1996)'' – Kannada Kathanikala Sankalanam (Telugu) * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1996)'' – Ratnakaravarni * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1996)'' – Sri Rama Sambhava * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2007)'' – Baligondu Belaku, Ramayanada Drishti * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2007)'' – Karnatakada Ekikaranada Anubhavagalu * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2008)'' – Barthruhari Virachitha Vakyapadiyada Sadhana Samudhesha * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2008)'' – Hoysala Karnataka Rajyothsava Samputa * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2010)'' – Samskruta Ramayana Natakagallali Patra Vaividhya * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2011)'' – Nagarasana Karnataka Bagavadgeethe * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2012)'' – Ramayanada Antaranga * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2008-15)'' – Hoysala Male (series)

Translations

* ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1964)'' – Lindon Johnson Kathe * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1965)'' – Samyuktha Samsthanagallanu Parichaya Madikolli * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1972)'' – Śaṅkarācārya (original by T M P Mahadevan) * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1974)'' – Kabir * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1985)'' – Saraladasa * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1980-82)'' – Idu Namma Bharata * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2005)'' – Beyond the Known * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2007)'' – Muddannana Mooru Ramayanagalu

Children's books

* ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1967)'' – Robinson Crusoe * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1972)'' – Kavi Janna * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (1975)'' – Chavundaraya * ''G. Venkatasubbiah (2011)'' – Chinnara Chitra Ramayana

Late life and recognition

Numerous felicitation volumes have been brought forth in honour of Venkatasubbiah's contribution to the world of Kannada literature and lexicography. In addition to these, various awards have been bestowed upon him. On his 60th birthday, a felicitation volume titled ''Sahityajeevi'' was presented to him. Similarly, in his ninetieth year, ''Shabdasagara'' was brought forth. In 2011, he was presented with a felicitation volume ''Vidvajeevita'' which was a collection of articles authored by writers from South Canara region of Karnataka and edited by Dr. Padekallu Vishnubhatta. To mark his centenary, another felicitation volume titled ''Shatanamana'' was presented to him at a gala function at Bangalore. Venkatasubbiah at the age of 102 years was the presiding guest of honour at the book launch of
Srikanthayana
'' - collection of writings in English on subjects related to

History History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

Indology Indology, also known as South Asian studies, is the academic study of the history and cultures, languages, and literature of the Indian subcontinent, and as such is a subset of Asian studies. The term ''Indology'' (in German, ''Indologie'') is ...

and

Archaeology Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landsca ...

by his teacher

in 2016.

List of awards

* Vidyalankara – from Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji *

Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award is an annual literary award given to literary works in Kannada by the Karnataka Sahitya Academy. Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award is given to individual books published in various genres like poetry, novel, short f ...

Rajyotsava Award The Rajyotsava Prashasti or Rajyotsava Awards, the second highest civilian honor of the Karnataka state of India are conferred annually by the Karnataka Government on the occasion of the establishment of the state on 1 November celebrated as t ...

* Karnataka Sahitya Academy Honorary Award * Karnataka Ekikarana Prashasthi * Shamba Prashasthi * Sediyapu Prashasthi * Shivaram Karanth Award * Press Academy Special Award * Aryabhata Award * Maasti Award * Gorur Award * Srikrishna Award * Aa Na Kru Prashasthi * Alvas Nudisiri * Thalthaja Keshavabhattara Smaranartha Keshava Prashasthi * Gokak Prashasthi * Sri Vanamali Seva Prashasthi * K. M. Munshi Award * Rotary Pioneer Extraordinary Award * Cited at the "First International Lexicographers Meeting" held at the

Annamalai University , logo = CampusmapofAU.jpg , image = Annamalai University logo.png , image_size = 225px , motto = "With Courage and Faith" , established = , type ...

in Tamil Nadu. * Paul Harris Fellowship * Nadoja Award – Hampi University (D. Litt.) * Honorary Doctorate from Rani Chennamma University * 77 All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana Presidency *

Pampa Award The Pampas (from the qu, pampa, meaning "plain") are fertile South American low grasslands that cover more than and include the Argentine Provinces of Argentina, provinces of Buenos Aires Province, Buenos Aires, La Pampa Province, La Pampa, ...

President of India The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Mur ...

– Oldest Living Achiever and Alumni Honour –

University of Mysore The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...

Centenary Celebration. *

Padmashri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred ...

– 2017 * Lipyantara - 2010 by Dharmasthala Manjunatha Dharmothana Trust

Death

Prof. G Venkatasubbaiah passed away on 19 April 2021 in Bangalore. He was 107.

Bibliography

Śēṣanārāyaṇa (1976). Felicitation Volume: 'ಚಿರಂಜೀವಿ' ಪ್ರೊ।। ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ ಸ್ಮರನಾರ್ಥಕ (1st ed.) Bangalore. publishers: Prō. Ji. Veṅkaṭasubbayya Smaraṇa Samiti

Veṅkaṭēś, Mallēpuraṃ G. (2004). Felicitation Volume: 'ಶಬ್ಧಸಾಗರಾ': ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ ನುಡಿಗೌರವ (1st ed.) Bangalore. publishers: ಸುಂದರ ಪ್ರಕಾಶನ.
* Venkatasubbiah, G. V. (2013). ಪುರಾಣ ಕಥಾವಳಿಯ ಪ೦ಡಿತ ಜಿ. ತಿಮ್ಮಣ್ಣಯ್ಯನವರು (1st ed.) Bangalore. publishers: ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ಸಂಪಾದಕ ಮ೦ಡಲಿ.pp. 1–56
Bhatta, Padekallu Vishnu (2011). Felicitation Volume: 'ವಿದ್ವತ್ತ್ ಜೀವಿತ' ಪ್ರೊ।। ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ ಗೌರವಗ್ರಂಥ (1st ed.) Udupi. publishers: Rāṣṭrakavi Gōvinda Pai Saṃśōdhana Kēndra.
* Krishna Bhat, C. (2011). Article: ಸಮಯ ಸಂಧರ್ಬ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶ (1st ed.) Udupi. pp. 3–10. * Rao, Mahabaleshwar. (2011) ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯದ ಜಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ 'ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಶಿಕ್ಷನ' (1st ed.) pp. 17–21. * Someshwara, Amrutha. Article: ಕುಮಾರವ್ಯಾಸನ ಅಂತರಂಗ - ಯುದ್ಧಪಂಚಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವು ಅನಿಸಿಕೆಗಳು (2nd ed.) Udupi. pp. 11–17.
Narayan, P. V. (2012). Felicitation Volume: 'ಶತಾನಮನ' ಪ್ರೊ।। ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ ಸಂಭಾವನ ಸಂಪುಟ (1st ed.) Bangalore. publishers: Nāḍōja Prō. Ji. Veṅkaṭasubbayya Janmaśatābdi Svāgata Samiti.
* Aruna, G. V. (2013). ಕನ್ನಡದ ಅರ್ಥವನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸಿದ ನಾಡೋಜ ಪ್ರೊ. ಜಿ. ವೆಂಕಟಸುಬ್ಬಯ್ಯ (1st ed.) Bangalore. publishers: ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ಸಂಪಾದಕ ಮ೦ಡಲಿ.pp. 1–64

References

External links

Official Biography of G. Venkatasubbiah

G. Venkatasubbiah's recollections of his teacher S. Srikanta Sastri

Online version of the Kannada-English Dictionary compiled by G Venkatasubbiah

A 103-year-old lexicographer has spent a century thinking about one of India’s oldest language

The man behind a 9,000-page, eight-volume Kannada dictionary that took 54 years to write

Kannada is the elixir of his life

"Ee Hiriyaru eega padma jeevi"-Kannada Article in Varthabharati
{{DEFAULTSORT:Venkatasubbiah, G. 1913 births 2021 deaths Indian lexicographers Kannada-language writers Indian centenarians Writers from Mysore Maharaja's College, Mysore alumni Maharaja's College, Mysore faculty 20th-century Indian linguists 20th-century Indian translators Indian children's writers 20th-century Indian novelists Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education Novelists from Karnataka Scholars from Mysore Men centenarians