T. V. Venkatachala Sastry

T. V. Venkatachala Sastry's birthplace (Harohalli Village, Kanakapura, Bangalore)

T. V. Venkatachala Sastry was born on 26 August 1933 at Harohalli village in Kanakapura taluk of Bangalore district to Brahmin parents Venkatasubba Sastry and Subbamma. The family belonged to the Smartha (Advaita) sect who are followers of Adi Shankaracharya and of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. They belong to the Vaidiki Mulukanadu caste of Telugu-speaking Brahmins settled in the Kannada-speaking Mysore kingdom. Sastry's father had received a traditional education in the religious texts and puranas. He had been impressed with the practical work of the Ramakrishna Math in serving the common people.[1] Sastry's mother was a home-maker and a deeply conservative lady.

T. V. Venkatachala Sastry during his student years (Also seen, S.Srikanta Sastri, 5th from left, bottom row)

Sastry had his primary schooling at Kanakapura near Bangalore. He finished his Intermediate course in 1947–48 and from 1948 until 1954, he pursued undergraduate and post-graduate degrees at University of Mysore, where he enrolled initially in Yuvaraja College and came under the influence of Kannada professors N. Anantarangachar and U. K. Subbarayachar. In 1950, he joined the B. A. (Honours) course in Kannada at Maharaja College.[2] Among his teaching faculty were renowned scholars like K. V. Puttappa (Kuvempu) who taught "Pampa Bharata" and "Literary Criticism", D. L. Narasimhachar (History of Literature), S. Srikanta Sastri (Cultural History of Karnataka)(see group photograph), K. V. Raghavachar (Kannada classic – "Basavarajadevara Ragale"), N. Anantarangachar (Kannada Grammar – "Shabdamanidarpana"), T. S. Shamarao (Vachanas of Basavanna) and Parameshwar Bhatt (Bharatesha Vaibhava). He worked on Pampa, Ranna, Harihara, Nemichandra, Raghavanka and Kumaravyasa utilizing ancient texts both from Mysore University library and the Oriental Research Institute, Mysore. He completed his Master of Arts (Kannada) degree from Maharaja College, Mysore in 1953–54 under the guidance of D. L. Narasimhachar.

T. V. Venkatachala Sastry at his graduation (1953–54)

Sastry (front row, 2nd from left) with G. S. Shivarudrappa while at Osmania University

Sastry began his career as a lecturer at Kanakapura rural college in 1955. He moved to St. Joseph's College, Bangalore in 1957 and continued as a lecturer there until 1959. Subsequently, he was appointed as lecturer at Osmania University in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh in 1959 where he worked hard to lend shape to the nascent Kannada department.[3] In addition to his teaching duties at the university, he also taught at several Women's and Arts Colleges. He involved himself in the affairs of the "Telugu Sahitya Akademi" and during these years put together his "Mahakavyalakshana". He translated Sophocles' "Trakiya Pengal" during his tenure at Osmania University. Later he translated "Prometheus Bound" by Aeschylus into Kannada. His dictionary titled "Sreevatsa Nighantu" took form while at Osmania University. After being transferred from women's college to the university's Post Graduate department, T. V. Venkatachala Sastry involved himself teaching topics like "Kannada Chandassu", Kannada Grammar and "Suktisudarnava". It was during these years that he set out to do doctoral research and this brought him closer to his former teacher and mentor D. L. Narasimhachar. In fact, D. L. Narasimhachar suggested a doctoral work on "Kannada Neminathapurana Tulanathmaka",[4] which T. V. V. Sastry took up in earnest. In February 1968, University of Mysore's "Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe" embarked on organising a symposium to celebrate eighth centennial of Basavanna and requested T. V. V. Sastry at Osmania University to pen a paper on "Vachana Sahitya". Sastry took up the project, returning a 60-page document that caught the attention of Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe director and his former teacher D. Javaregowda, who with H. M. Nayak persuaded him to relocate to University of Mysore in 1968 to occupy the post of lecturer.[1]

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.[5]

Mysore University group photo, 1956. T. V. Venkatachala Sastry with A. L. Basham

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.[6]

"Mulukanadu Brahmanaru" by T. V. Venkatachala Sastry

• 1972 - Sāhitya Manthana[9]
• 1973 - Kannaḍa Nēminatha Purāṇagaḷa Taulanika Adhyayana[10]
• 1974 - Chamundaraya
• 1979 - Shabdarthavihara[11]
• 1980 - Jaina Bhagavatha Bharathagalu: Ondu Sameekshe[12]
• 1981 - Prācīna Kannaḍa Sāhitya, Kelavu Nōṭagaḷu[13]
• 1981 - Muru Sameekshegalu[14]
• 1982 - Hosagannada Sahitya: Kelavu Notagalu
• 1983 - Namma Karnataka[15]
• 1983 - Pampa[16]
• 1991 - Haleya Honnu[17]
• 1999 - Śāstrīya: Samputagalu 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6[18]
• 2000 - Mulakanāḍu Brāhmaṇaru: Samudāya, Saṃskrti[19]
• 2007 - Kanakapura Emba Kānakāna Haḷḷiya Charitre[20]
• 2009 - Kannaḍa abhijāta sāhitya : adhyayanada avakāśagaḷu, ahvānagaḷu[21]

• 1990 - Hosagannadada Vyakarana[22]
• 1994 - Keshirajavirachita Shabdamanidarpanam[2]
• 1997 - Keshirajavirachita Shabdamanidarpanam
• 2001 - Darpaṇavivaraṇa[23]

• 1969 - Mahakavyalakshana[24]
• 1987 - Kannaḍa Citrakāvya: Svarūpa, Itihāsa, Vimarśe[25]

• 1966 - Baddha Prometheus (Greek Original – "Prometheus Bound" by Sophocles)
• 1971 - Kamsa
• 1978 - Trakiya Pengal (Greek Original – "Trakiya Pengal" by Aeschylus)
• 1981 - Hosagannada Mitravinda Govinda[26]

• 1970 - Kannaḍa Chandassu[27]
• 1978 - Kannada Chandahswarupa[28]
• 1989 - Kannaḍa Chandōvihāra[29]
• 2003 - Kannada Chandomimamse[30]
• 2007 - Chandombudhi[31]
• 2013 - Kannaḍa Chandaḥkōśa[32]

• 1971 - Śrīvatsa nighaṇṭu[33]
• 1977 - Kannada Ratnakosha
• 1994 - Gajashastrashabdakosha
• 2004 - Granthasampadhana Paribhashakosha[34]

• 1980 - Mahamahopadhyaya R. Shamasastry
• 1983 - Rao Bahadur M. Shama Rao
• 1985 - Sahitya Shilpigalu[35]
• 1995 - A. R. Krishnashastry
• 2002 - Mārgadarśaka Mahanīyaru[36]
• 2004 - Bhārataratna Sir M. Viśvēśvarayyanavara Pūrvajaru[37]
• 2005 - Aaptaru Acharyaru
• 2005 - Sri Sahajanandabharathi Swamigalu
• 2007 - Dr A. Venkatasubbaiahanavaru

• 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[38]
• 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[39]
• 2005 - Kavyajinashtakagalu
• 2006 - Boppannapanditana Gommatajinendra Gunastavam
• 2007 - Pampasamputa[40]
• 2008 - Karyakarisamithi Sadasya – B. M. Sri Smaraka Pratishthana

• 1986 - Vedam Venkataraya Sastri
• 1987 - Harivamshapuranasaara
• 2002 - Karnaparyana Neminatha Purana Kathasaara
• 2002 - Ardhanemi Purana Kathasara, Vastu Vimarshe

• 1975 - Kavyachitragalu
• 1982 - Saddentembara Ganda
• 1990 - Melugāḷiya Mātugaḷu: Tombattu Cintanegaḷu[41]
• 2002 - Udāracaritaru Udāttaprasaṅgagaḷu[42]

• 1966 - A Descriptive Catalogue of Kannada Manuscripts in the Osmania University Library (Co-edited)
• 1978 - A Bibliography of Karnataka Studies – Vol I[43]
• 1997 - A Bibliography of Kannada Ramayana
• 1998 - A Bibliography of Karnataka Studies - Vol II[44]