S L Bhyrappa, well-known Kannada novelist, passes away

Mangalore Today News Network

Mysuru, Sep 24, 2025: Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhyrappa, Mysuru-based popular novelist and writer, passed away in Bengaluru on Wednesday. He was 94.

The writer suffered a cardiac arrest at 2.38 pm on Wednesday, according to a statement from Rashtrotthana Hospital in Bengaluru.

He was suffering from heart-related problems. Six months ago, he had collapsed during a morning walk and was shifted to Bengaluru for better care. He lived in a guesthouse under the care of a guardian in Bengaluru.

A native of Santheshivara in Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district, Bhyrappa studied in Hassan and Mysuru districts and served as a professor of philosophy in various parts of India, including Gujarat and New Delhi. He had also served as a member of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). He retired as professor in the Regional Institute of Education (RIE) in Mysuru.

Bhyrappa has written 26 novels in Kannada and some of them have been translated into other Indian and foreign languages. His famous novels include Parva, Vamshavriksha, Gruhabhanga, Tantu, Mandra and Avarana.

He was criticised by a section of writers and activists as being a right-wing writer. His novel Avarana caused a controversy as its subject was the Islamic invasion of India.

Bhyrappa was a recipient of the Saraswati Samman and Padma Bhushan, among various other awards.

Bhyrappa inaugurated the Mysuru Dasara celebrations in 2019. He is survived by his wife, Saraswathi, and sons S B Udayashankar and S B Ravishankar.