A.N. Krishna Rao
| A. N. Krishna Rao (A Na Kru) | |
|---|---|
A. N. Krishna Rao
|
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| Born |
9 May 1908 Kolar, Kolar district, Karnataka, India |
| Died | 8 July 1971 (aged 63) Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Pen name | A Na Kru |
| Occupation | Novelist, playwright, critic |
| Nationality | India |
| Genre | Fiction |
A. N. Krishna Rao (Arakalagudu Narasingarao Krishna Rao; 9 May 1908 – 8 July 1971), popularly known as Anakru, was an Indian writer. He is one of the best-known writers in the Kannada language and was popularly known as Kadambari Sarvabhouma (lit, "King of Novels"). The inception of the Pragatishila ("progressive") movement in Kannada literature is credited to him. He received an honorary doctorate from the Mysore University and the Karnataka state Sahitya Akademi award.
Anakru was born on 9 May 1908 in Kolar town in the state of Karnataka, India to Narasinga Rao (father) and Annapoornamma (mother). The family traces its roots to Arkalgud town in the Hassan district of Karnataka. At the start of his career, he edited literary Kannada magazines such Katha Manjari and Vishva Vani. He was also an editor of the Kannada Sahitya Parishath's publication Kannada Nudi ("Kannada speech"). Anakru was nominated as the president of 42nd Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in Manipal. He is known for his passion for his native language Kannada. Once when introducing Anakru to an audience, Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, one of Kannada's most well-known writers said "I am a Tamil Kannadiga, Sir Mirza Ismail is a Muslim Kannadiga, and Anakru is a pure Kannadiga". This tribute from the likes of Masti mirrors the Kannada fervour Anakru was known for.
Anakru fought for the unification of Kannada speaking regions, when Kannada speakers were spread across different provinces in British India. He started a movement to promote and popularize Kannada. He openly criticized people in authority who neglected Kannada. In one such case, he wrote an article in the Kannada Nudi', criticizing the Hindi oriented policies of R. R. Divakar (the first governor of Bihar), the President of Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in 1929. On being asked to apologize, Anakru resigned from the post of the editor. Anakru lived most of his life in his house (called Annapoorna) in Vishveshpuram, a suburb in South Bangalore. He died on 8 July 1971 at the age of 63.
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