M. Chidananda Murthy

M. Chidananda Murthy
Born	10 May 1931 Hirekogalur, Channagiri taluk, Davanagere District, Karnataka
Occupation	Professor, writer, historian
Nationality	India
Genre	Non Fiction

M. Chidananda Murthy (Kannada: ಚಿದಾನಂದ ಮೂರ್ತಿ) (born 10 May 1931) is a Kannada writer, researcher and historian. He is a well-known scholar in Karnataka specializing in the history of Kannada language and ancient Karnataka. He is also known for his campaign to conserve the monuments Hampi and to secure classical language status to Kannada Language. Murthy has also articulated that uniform civil code and an anti-conversion law must be enacted by the Government in India.

Chidananda Murthy obtained his Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree in 1953 from Mysore University. He obtained his Master of Arts degree in Kannada Literature in 1957, also from Mysore University. During his postgraduate studies he produced his influential essay Pampa kavi mattu maulya prasara. In Mysore University, he came under the influence of Kannada literary figures like Kuvempu, PuTeeNa, Raghavachar and historians like S. Srikanta Sastri. Another literary stalward TeeNamShri guided Murthy in doctoral research on Kannada inscriptions. His doctoral thesis was titled A cultural study of Kannada inscriptions. He obtained his PhD degree from Bangalore University in 1964.

Murthy was the head of the department of Kannada Bangalore University. He was also associated with Kannada Shakti Kendra. As a historian most of Murthy's work has focused on scientific study of the Kannada Inscriptions. He has attempted to contextualize inscriptions in their socio cultural setup. He has produced many books on the history of Kannada language and Karnataka. He has guided many research students.

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