Azim Premji University will release Sahitya Sahavasa Bhaashe, Sahitya, Vyakti, Chalavali | U R Ananthamurthy Maatukate, a book based on a video lecture series with the Jnanpith award winner on Friday, February 7 at the Indian Institute of World Culture to celebrate acclaimed Kannada litterateurs of the 20^th century. The book release marks the culmination of a series of literary and cultural events held across the state over the last year. 

The book throws light on the contributions of prominent Kannada writers like Kuvempu, Da Ra Bendre, Shivarama Karanth, Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, Gopalakrishna Adiga, P Lankesh, Poornachandra Tejaswi, Chandrashekhara Kambara, A K Ramanujan, and Girish Karnad among others. The book, jointly published by Azim Premji University and Aharnishi Prakashana, Shivamogga, also reflects upon key literary movements like Navya and Dalit Sahitya. 

Literary critic Dr Narahalli Balasubrahmanya, will release the book while Prof Sharath Ananthamurthy, Vice Chancellor, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, will preside over the function.

 Dr Gita Vasanth, Assistant Professor, Dr D V G Kannada Adhyayana Kendra, Tumkur University, Tumkur and N A M Ismail, Associate Vice President, Digital Content, Star India Pvt Ltd will share insights. 

The book will be released in the presence of Esther Ananthamurthy, and Dr Chandan Gowda, Ramakrishna Hegde Chair Professor, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru. 

A snippet of U R Ananthamurthy’s video lectures on various writers will be played, along with a rendering of Dr G S Shivarudrappa’s poem at the event.