Karnataka - Bidar   

The man who helped develop the reading habit in many

Rishikesh Bahadur Desai

Narasimhaiah pioneered the Kannada detective genre

N. Narasimhaiah

Bidar: It was Ugadi; a little girl stood at the door waiting for her father who had gone out to the market. He had promised to come back with a gift. When she finally spotted him at that end of the road, she ran into the kitchen to announce the news to her mother. She then ran into the street to her father. The white packet in his hand caught her eyes. However, she was slightly disappointed when he opened the packet. It contained nothing but a dosa. That is what the man could afford.

The man is N. Narasimhaiah, a pioneer of detective novels in Kannada. The man, who was born to a Dalit folk singer, has now grown into an accomplished writer. The octogenarian has published over 550 novels. All his novels have been bestsellers and have had multiple editions. His popular novel, Bhayankara Bairagi, has been brought out in eight editions. He was recently presented the honorary award of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy. Critic Subbu Holeyar related this anecdote to readers and students at an interaction session organised by the Karnataka Sahitya Sangha. Dr. Holeyar introduced Mr. Narasimhaiah to the readers in Bidar.

Retired teacher Veerendra Simpi described Mr. Narasimhaiah as a writer who attracted the largest number of youth to Kannada literature. Many people started reading serious literature after reading Mr. Narasimhaiah's novels, Mr. Simpi said.

Mr. Narasimhaiah helped develop the taste of reading in many readers.

Some characters such as Galiraya, Pattedara Madhusoodana and Pattedara Arinjaya have become legends, said Devendra Karanji, research fellow at Kannada University, Hampi.

Mr. Narasimhaiah's early life was tough. He was born in a poor family in Bangalore. Poverty forced him to drop out of school after the fourth standard. He began apprenticeship at a tailor in Balepete. He later joined a bookstall. There he began reading old books. He became a voracious reader. The skills he picked up while reading were well reflected in his writings. Even today, he remains an avid reader.

A man of few words, he said he was happy to receive the award. "Some people call me the `Sherlock Holmes' of Karnataka. I believe they wanted to say I was the Arthur Conan Doyle of Kannada," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

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