S. L. Bhyrappa

Starting with Bheemakaya, first published in 1958, Bhyrappa has authored twenty four novels in a career spanning more than five decades. Vamshavruksha, Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane, Matadana and Nayi Neralu were made into films that received critical acclaim. Vamshavruksha has received the Kannada Sahitya Academy Award in 1966 and Daatu (Crossing Over) received both the Kannada and the Kendra Sahitya Academy awards in 1975.[9] Parva, the most critically acclaimed of all his novels narrates the social structure, values and mortality in the epic of Mahabharata very effectively. Bhyrappa reconstructs the Mahabharatha from sociological and anthropological angle, through metaphors in this novel.[10].Tantu, a Kannada novel was published in 1993.Tantu ( meaning 'cord' or 'links') means relations or links between human emotions. This book was translated into English in the year 2010 by Niyogi Books.

Many of Bhyrappa's novels have been translated into other Indian languages and English.[2] Bhyrappa has been one of the best-selling authors in Kannada for the past twenty-five years, and translations of his books have been best sellers for the past eight years in Marathi and in the past five years in Hindi.[4]

Most of his novels have been reprinted several times. His recently printed novel Aavarana, was sold out even before its release. The novel went on to create a record in Indian literary circles with ten reprints within five months of its publcation.[11] His latest novel Yaana (Jjourney), was released in August 2014. All of his novels are published by Sahitya Bhandara in Hubli, Karnataka.

Bhyrappa was the center of several controversies because of his themes and positions on sensitive issues.[1] Some of his prominent novels (such as Vamshavruksha, Tabbaliyu Neenaade Magane, Parva, and Saartha) have strong roots in ancient Indian philosophical tradition, thus inviting severe criticism from Navya writers and from others. Bhyrappa supported N. R. Narayana Murthy when he was criticized by the media and the public regarding the controversy over playing an instrumental version of the national anthem at an important occasion. He also backed N. R. Narayana Murthy regarding the Kaveri issue saying riots and protests are not going to solve the problem.[12] Bhyrappa had a debate with Girish Karnad in the publication Vijaya Karnataka regarding the religious tolerance of 18th century Mysore ruler Tippu Sultan. In Bhyrappa's novel Aavarana, he accuses Tippu Sultan of being a religious fanatic who could not stand Hindus in his court. Bhyrappa had substantiated the argument based on several historic sources written in India during Tippu Sultan's rule. One of the issues Bhyrappa raised was the usage of the Persian word bin (which is used to refer to a person as a "son of") in the Government of Karnataka records even during modern times. This practice started during Tippu Sultan's rule, which according to Bhyrappa was one of the several methods used to enforce Islamic rule on Hindus. The book discusses other methods used by Tippu Sultan to convert Hindus to Islam. Bhyrappa backs his claims with historical references. This was criticized by Girish Karnad, who portrays Tippu Sultan as a secular ruler in his plays. Bhyrappa accused Karnad of giving an inaccurate account of Tippu Sultan in his plays.

U.R. Ananthamurthy was a prominent critic of Bhyrappa's novels. Bhyrappa has documented his debate with Ananthamurthy in Bhitti, as well as in a few essays in his book Naaneke Bareyuttene. Bhyrappa's more recent novel Avarana brings out historical information about what Islamic rule did to ancient Indian social and cultural life. This has stirred a major controversy. There have been accusations leveled at Bhyrappa of being a Hindu fundamentalist who wants to divide society on the basis of history, an allegation which Bhyrappa anticipated and tried to refute by referring to notable sources.[13] Ananthamurthy criticized Bhyrappa and his works, calling Aavarana "dangerous". Ananthamurthy accused Bhyrappa of being more of a debater than a storyteller. "He doesn't know what Hindu religion stands for" and "does not know how to write novels". [14] However Bhyrappa claims that the novel was result of his search for truth and there was no ulterior motive behind the novel. He urged critics to study the reference books mentioned in the novel before arriving at any conclusion about it.[15]

• Bendre National award [16]
• Padma Shri award (Government of India, 2016)[17]
• Sahitya Akademi Fellowship (Government of India, 2015)[6]
• National Research Professor, (Government of India, 2014)[18]
• Saraswati Samman for his novel Mandra (Birla Foundation, 2011).
• Sahitya Akademi Award (Government of India, 1975)

• Nrupatunga Award (2017, Kannada Sahithya Parishaththu and BMTC Bengaluru)[19]
• Sri Krishnadevaraya Award (Telugu Vignana Samithi, 2017)[20]
• Honorary Doctorate from Mysore University (2015).[21]
• Betageri Krishna Sharma Award (2014)[22]
• Vagvilasini Puraskar (Deenanath Memorial Foundation, Pune, 2012)[23]
• Nadoja Award (2011)
• NTR National Award (2007).[24]
• Honorary Doctorate from Gulbarga University (2007).[25]
• Pampa Award (2005).[26]
• President, Kannada Sahitya Sammelana at Kanakapura (1999)
• Kannada Sahitya Academy award (Government of Karnataka, 1966)

• 
  Dr. Ganesh speaking at the felicitation.
• 
  Dr. N S Lakshmi Narayana Bhatta speaking about Dr. Bhyrappa at the felicitation.
• 
  Guests, seated (from left to right): Shivamogga Subbanna, (unidentified), Sumateendra Nadig, Dr.Bhyrappa, Garudanagiri Nagraj, Dr. Bhatta

• Bhitti/ಭಿತ್ತಿ (1996)

• Satya mattu Soundarya/ಸತ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಸೌಂದರ್ಯ (1966) (Doctoral thesis)
• Saahitya mattu Prateeka/ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರತೀಕ (1967)
• Kathe mattu Kathavastu/ಕಥೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕಥಾವಸ್ತು (1969)
• Naaneke Bareyuttene?/ನಾನೇಕೆ ಬರೆಯುತ್ತೇನೆ? (1980)
• Sandarbha : Samvada/ಸಂದರ್ಭ : ಸಂವಾದ (2011)

• Parva-Sakshi/ಪರ್ವ-ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ

His short story "Avva"/ಅವ್ವ was published in the Kasturi magazine and it's considered as his maiden short story.

• Kannada literature

• Bhitti (Canvas) by S.L. Bhyrappa, an autobiography
• Naaneke Bareyuttene by S.L. Bhyrappa, a collection of essays about writing
• S. L. Bhyrappa Badaku-Baraha by Nagaraj Neeragunda on S.L. Bhyrappa's life and works

Wikimedia Commons has media related to S. L. Bhyrappa.

• Interview with S L Bhyrappa – Times of India
• Pampa Award to Bhyrappa in 2001
• Belagere Krishnashastri, Mareyaladeete, for a warm-hearted interpretation of the author's experiences with Bhyrappa.
• Bhyrappabhinandana, a felicitation book on S.L. Bhyrappa
• S.L. Bhyrappa Avara Krutigala Vimarshe a collection of literary criticism on S.L.Bhyrappa's works compiled by Sumateendra Nadig
• Mandra-Manthana, a collection of essays about S.L. Bhyrappa's novel, Mandra, by various literary critics
• Gruhabhanga pdf book at internet archive