Growing Up Karanth

by K. Ullas Karanth, Malavika Kapur, Kshama Rau

Karanth, Kuvempu, Bendre—the trinity of modern Kannada literature; the pride of Kannadigas; … It was Shivarama Karanth who took the culture of Karnataka beyond the shores of India with his dance and music. After Rabindranath Tagore, no one had mastered as many art forms as Shivarama Karanth.

-From the Foreword by Dr. Chiranjiv Singh, former Indian ambassador to UNESCO

Kota Shivarama Karanth was the ultimate Renaissance Man. A giant of world literature, he produced dozens of novels, plays, children’s works, autobiographies, popular science books, translations and much else. In 1977, he was awarded the Bharatiya Jnanpith Award for the novel Mookajjiya Kanasugalu. But Karanth was more than a writer. He also dabbled in journalism and movie-making, ran a publishing house, and campaigned for environmental and political causes. He was instrumental in transforming the ancient dance-drama form of Yakshagana for a modern audience.

While a great deal has been written about the man and his genius, there is little material about the intimate details of his life. Through much of his creative career, for instance, Karanth was unflinchingly supported by his wife, Leela. The Karanths had four children. The eldest, Harsha, died in 1961. The other three, Malavika, Ullas and Kshama, came together to present this uniquely personal account of what it was like to be the children of a creative genius. Growing Up Karanth documents their ‘rare privilege’, while also detailing the world of Shivarama Karanth through their eyes.

Multi-layered and nuanced, critical and affectionate, and filled with revelations that open up new facets of their father’s life, Malavika, Ullas and Kshama reveal Karanth and his times like no one else can.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

242 pages, Hardcover

Published October 11, 2021

Reviews

[Prashanth Bhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up Karanth - malavika kapur,k.ullas Karanth,kshama rau.

ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹೊಸದಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಬೇಕಾದ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆ ಇದೆಯೇ? ಯಾವ ಕೋನದಿಂದ ನೋಡಿದರೂ ಅವರು ಕನ್ನಡನಾಡು ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬರು. ಅವರು ಕೈಯಾಡಿಸದ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳೇ ಇಲ್ಲ.
ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ಏಕೆ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ನೀವು ಓದಬೇಕು?
ಏಕೆ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಬರೆದರು?

ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಎಷ್ಟೇ ದೊಡ್ಡವನಾಗಿರಲಿ,ಸಣ್ಣವನಾಗಿರಲಿ.‌ಅವರವರ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಕಣ್ಣಲ್ಲಿ,ಪತ್ನಿಯ ಕಾಣುವ ಆತನೇ ಬೇರೆ. ಅಥವಾ ಆ ರೀತಿಯಾಗಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಕಾಣಲು ಆ ಹತ್ತಿರದವರಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸಾಧ್ಯ. ಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಜನಾದರೂ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಅಪ್ಪ ಅಲ್ಲವೇ?
ಹೌದು. ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಓದುವುದು ಏಕಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಭಾವುಕ,ಖುಷಿ,ಬೇಸರದ ಸಂಗತಿಯೂ ಹೌದು.
ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನಂತಹ ತಂದೆ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಸಿಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.
ಮಗಳು ಮಾಲವಿಕಾ ' ಅಜ್ಜಾ,ನಾನು ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಶಾಲೆಗೆ ಹೋಗುವೆ" ಎಂದಾಗ ಸಮ್ಮತಿಸಿದ ಅಪ್ಪ. ಅವರು ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರವಾಗಿ ನಿರ್ಧಾರಗಳ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡಾಗ ಬೆಂಬಲವಾಗಿ ನಿಂತ ಅಪ್ಪ.
ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ಜೊತೆ ಮೂವರು ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಅನುಭವಗಳ ಪ್ರತ್ಯೇಕವಾಗಿ ದಾಖಲಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ ಅಲ್ಲಲ್ಲಿ ಅದೇ ಪ್ರಸಂಗಗಳು ಮತ್ತೆ ಬರುತ್ತದೆ. ಅಮ್ಮನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರೆಯುವಾಗ ಮೂವರು ಒಟ್ಟಾಗಿ ದಾಖಲಿಸಿದ ಅಧ್ಯಾಯವಿದ್ದರೆ, ಕೊನೆಯ ದಿನಗಳ ಕುರಿತು ಮೂವರು ಸೇರಿ ಬರೆದ ಅಧ್ಯಾಯವಿದೆ.
ಇದೊಂದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಪಯಣ.
ದೊಡ್ಡ ಮರದ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಏನೂ ಬೆಳೆಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಅನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅದನ್ನು ಸುಳ್ಳು ಮಾಡಿದ ಡಿ.ವಿ.ಜಿ.- ಬಿ.ಜಿ.ಎಲ್. ಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ಕುವೆಂಪು- ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ , ಗೌರೀಶ್ ಕಾಯ್ಕಿಣಿ- ಜಯಂತ್ ಕಾಯ್ಕಿಣಿ ಸಾಲಿಗೆ ಇವರೂ ಸೇರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ ಇವರಾರ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರವೂ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಅಲ್ಲ.
ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕವು ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ಜೊತೆ ಮಕ್ಕಳು 'ಬಾಲವನ' ದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳೆದ ದಿನಗಳ ವಿವರವಾಗಿ ತೆರೆದಿಡುತ್ತದೆ
‌ನಂತರ ಬದುಕಿನ ಹಲವಾರು ಘಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮ ತಂದೆಯೊಡನೆ ಬದಲಾಗುತ್ತಾ ಹೋದ ಸಂಬಂಧದ ಸ್ವರೂಪ, ಆಳದ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆಯೂ ಇದೆ.
ಲೀಲಾ ಕಾರಂತರ ಮಾನಸಿಕ ಆರೋಗ್ಯದ ಏರುಪೇರು, ಹಿರಿಯ ಮಗ ಹರ್ಷನ ಸಾವು, ಸೂರ್ಯಣ್ಣನ ಅಕಾಲ ಮೃತ್ಯು ಇವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಒಬ್ಬೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೆ ತಟ್ಟಿದ ಬಗೆ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ತಾಕಿದ ರೀತಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಅನುಭವವಾಗಿ ದಾಖಲಾಗಿದೆ.
ಒಳಗಿರುವ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು ಪುಸ್ತಕವ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಯೋಗ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ.
ಬಹುಶಃ ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಓದುಗರ ಗಮನದಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ಬರೆದ ಕಾರಣವೋ ಏನೋ ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ಕುರಿತಾದ ಈಗಲೇ ಬಂದಿರುವ,ಗೊತ್ತಿರುವ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ವಿವರಗಳನ್ನು ಕಾಣಬಹುದು.

ಯಾಕೆ ಬಂತು ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ?
ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನವರಿಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿರಬಹುದಾಗಿರುವ ಹಾಗೆ ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ಇಳಿವಯಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಿಕೊಂಡ ಮಹಿಳೆಯವರ ಬಳಿ ಅವರ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಬರಹಗಳ ಇತರ ವಸ್ತುಗಳ ಹಕ್ಕಿದೆ. ಈ ಕುರಿತಾದ ಹಲವಾರು ಹಾಕ್ಯಾಟಗಳೂ ನಡೆದಿವೆ. ಆ ಕುರಿತಾಗಿಯೂ ಹೆಸರು ಬಳಸದೆ ಕೊನೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜ ಹೇಗೆ ಒಬ್ಬರ ಮುಷ್ಟಿಯೊಳಗೆ ಬಂಧಿಯಾದರು ಎಂಬುದರ ವಿಷಾದದ ವಿವರಣೆಗಳೂ ಇದರಲ್ಲಿವೆ. ಯಾವ ಹಕ್ಕು ಯಾರ ಬಳಿ ಇದ್ದರೂ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ತಂದೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬರೆವ ಹಕ್ಕನ್ನು ಅದು ಕಸಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾರದು ಅಲ್ಲವೇ? ಅದರ ಫಲವೇ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ.

ಶಿವರಾಮ ಕಾರಂತ ಎಂಬ ನಿಜ ಅರ್ಥದ ' ಜಾತ್ಯತೀತ', ಮಹಾನ್ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಕಾರ, ವಿಷನರಿ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವದ ಮತ್ತು ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಿಮಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಓದುವಾಗ ಖುಷಿಯ ಕಣ್ಣೀರು‌ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಕೆನ್ನೆಗಳ ತೋಯಿಸುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂದೇಹವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ.

[mahesh]

Its badly written. Cant even complete 20 % of the book.
I have read most of the prominent works of Karanth including his Biography. But this book is terribly written in English by his children. This book felt like Pseudo social activists blog than a literature.

[Aditya Kulkarni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding would be an understatement to describe this book, a biography on arguably India's greatest polymath since Rabindranath Tagore. I always knew about Shivaram Karanth being one of the greatest Kannada writers of all time and a recipient of the prestigious Jnanapeetha award. But I didn't know that he was not just one of the greatest Kannada writers of all time, but the greatest polymath since Tagore himself. This book is written by his children - Malvika Kapur, Ullas Karanth, and Kshama Rau as a tribute to their late parents and it is a moving gesture by the three of them to celebrate the life of their parents and share the memories they had of their father Shivaram Karanth and mother Leela Karanth.

Being a English medium Kannadiga millennial, I have unfortunately not been able to actually read any work of Karanthajja as he was affectionately called by Kannadigas till now like many of my peers. But it is something I hope and wish to accomplish in the near future to fully know the legend that was Karanthajja. NR Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys has endorsed this book and has implored upon every English literate Indian to read it. I completely agree with that endorsement and this book is a must read for all Indians. I'm grateful to the authors for sharing the memories of their illustrious parents and I urge people to read this wonderfully written book.

[Prashanth Bhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

[Madhulika Liddle · Rating 3 out of 5]

If the term ‘Renaissance man’ can be applied to anyone, the Kannada polymath Kota Shivaram Karanth would qualify. The man historian Ramachandra Guha aptly compared to Rabindranath Tagore and referred to as a ‘colossus’; the man critic CH Prahlada Rao called ‘an epitome of many lives, each rich and beautiful…’. A writer of novels, plays, popular science, works on culture and anthropology, children’s books; an environmental and political activist; a film maker; the reviver and re-inventor of the Yakshagana traditional theatre; a theatre designer and dramatist. And so much more: Karanth (1902-97) was indeed a man of an awe-inspiring range of talents.

Karanth has been the subject of various biographies, including his autobiography, Ten Faces of a Whimsical Mind. Growing Up Karanth, by his daughters Malavika Kapur and Kshama Rau, along with their brother K Ullas Karanth, is however along different lines. This book is not merely a retelling of the life of Shivaram Karanth, but an insight into what it was to grow up with him as a father.

Spread across ten chapters, Growing Up Karanth begins with an introduction to the ancestors of Shivaram Karanth and his wife Leela, a way of explaining the background to these two people, who met when Leela was a feisty teenager and Karanth in his mid-thirties. After describing their wedding (and, given that it was an intercaste marriage, the inevitable opposition to the match), the authors go on to describe Leela, their ‘Amma’, in loving and sensitive detail.

This sensitivity and affection continues through the narrative as all three Karanth siblings, over the course of a couple of chapters each, recount their childhood and formative years with Amma and Tata (‘Thatha’, or ‘grandfather’, the name by which the children addressed Karanth). These narratives create an interesting and very vivid picture of the environment at Balavana (the house near Puttur town, where the Karanths lived for many years): a place of creativity, proximity to nature, and surroundings that encouraged thought, exploration and freedom. Not only do Karanth and Leela come alive through these recollections, so do the people who surrounded them, their friends and relatives; their associates; Karanth’s fellow-writers and artists.

And so, too, do Karanth’s three offspring. Malavika Kapur, a psychologist who is an expert on mental health, writes feelingly about her mother’s long and painful battle with mental health issues. Ullas Karanth, who is a respected wildlife biologist, sheds light not only on his Tata’s love for nature and its conservation, but also on other, non-literary fields (such as politics and social activism) in which Karanth participated. Kshama Rau, the youngest of the siblings and an exponent of Odissi dance, shows how Karanth’s love for the performing arts influenced her from a young age. Rau’s section of the narrative is marked by an affection and an intimacy all its own: you can almost see the bond between father and daughter in these pages.

As one would expect, Growing Up Karanth is a close encounter with Karanth. It is also, commendably, an honest one. The authors do not shy away from discussing Karanth’s shortcomings, his volatile temper and his inability to judge human character. There is a refreshing candour to it all, yet there is a dignity, too.

A memorable insight into not just the man Karanth was, but the family he was part of.

(A version of my review for The New Indian Express: https://www.newindianexpress.com/maga...)

[Bharath Manchashetty · Rating 5 out of 5]

ಮೊದಲೆರಡು ದಿನ ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ಓದಲಾಗದಿದ್ದರೂ ತಲೆಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲೇ ಇಟ್ಟು ಮಲಗಿದ್ದೆ, ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಕೃತಿಯ ಮುಖಪುಟ, ಪುಟಗಳ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟ, ಹಲವು ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು ತುಂಬಾ ಮನಸೆಳೆದುಬಿಟ್ಟವು. ಸರಳ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಕೃತಿ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿರವಾಯ್ತು. ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೇಜಾರಾದಾಗ, ಆಲಸಿಯಾದಾಗ ಕಾರಂತರ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನೋದಿದರೆ ಅಂಟಿರುವ ಜಡತ್ವ ಕಣದಷ್ಟಾದರೂ ತೊರೆದೋಗುತ್ತದೆಂದು ನನ್ನ ಗಟ್ಟಿ ಅನಿಸಿಕೆ.

“ಹುಚ್ಚು ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ಹತ್ತು ಮುಖಗಳು” ನೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಆತ್ಮಕತೆಗಳಲ್ಲೊಂದು. ಒಬ್ಬ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಇಷ್ಟೊಂದು ವಿವಿಧ ಬಗೆಯ ಜೀವನ ನಡೆಸಬಹುದೆಂದು ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯದ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಸೃಜನಶೀಲ ಬದುಕಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಚೋದನೆಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಹೌದು. ಕಾರಂತರ ಹಲವು ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನು, ಆತ್ಮಕಥೆಯನ್ನೋದಿ ಈ ಕೃತಿ ಓದಿದರೆ ಅವರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ಗೌರವ ಮೂಡುವುದು ಖಚಿತ. ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಕಾರಂತರ ಪತ್ನಿ ಲೀಲಾ ಕಾರಂತರ ಮಾನಸಿಕ ಖಿನ್ನತೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹಲವು ವಿಷಯಗಳು ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪವಾಗಿವೆ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಈ ಕೃತಿಯ ಕರ್ತೃಗಳಾದ ಅವರ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯೂ ಧನ್ಯತಾಭಾವ ಮೂಡುವುದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂದೇಹವಿಲ್ಲ. ಬಹುಮುಖ ಪ್ರತಿಭೆಯಾಗಿ ದುಡಿದ ಕಾರಂತರನ್ನು “ಕನ್ನಡದ ಟ್ಯ��ಗೋರ್” ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯಬಹುದು.

ಶಿವರಾಮ ಕಾರಂತರ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಬರೆದಿರುವ “ಕಾರಂತರ ಸುಳಿಯಲಿ” ಕೃತಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಪ್ರಕಾರದ ಆತ್ಮಕಥನಾತ್ಮಕ ಹಾಗೂ ಸ್ಮರಣಾತ್ಮಕ ಬರಹ. ಈ ಕೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣಸಿಗುವುದು ಕಾರಂತರ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ, ಚಿಂತನೆ, ಬಿಡುವಿಲ್ಲದ ಸೃಜನಶೀಲತೆ-ಜೀವನಶೈಲಿ, ಸಾಲದಲ್ಲೇ ಪರದಾಡುವ ದಂಪತಿಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಿಕ, ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ, ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನ, ನಾಟಕ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳ ಪ್ರಭಾವವನ್ನು ಆಪ್ತವಾಗಿ ಚಿತ್ರಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. “ಸುಳಿಯಲಿ” ಎಂಬ ಪದವೇ ಕಾರಂತರ ಚಿಂತನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಜೀವನದ ಪ್ರಭಾವಶೀಲ ವಲಯವನ್ನು ಸೂಚಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಚಿತ್ರಣವಲ್ಲ, ಬದಲಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಕಾಲಘಟ್ಟದ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯ ದಾಖಲೆ ಕೂಡ ಆಗಿದೆ.

ಕಾರಂತರ ಕೊನೆಯ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹತ್ತಿರವಾದ “ಮ” ಎಂಬ ಮಹಿಳೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಹಲವು ವಿಷಯಗಳು ದಾಖಲಾಗಿವೆ. ಪ್ರಪಂಚವನ್ನು ಕಿಂಡಿಯ ಮೂಲಕ ನೋಡುವಂತೆ ತನ್ನೆಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಧಾರೆಎರೆದು ಕೂಪಮಂಡೂಕನಾಗುವ ಕಾರಂತರು ಹೆಣ್ಣಿನ ಸೆಲೆಯೊಳಗೆ ಬಂಧಿಯಾಗುವ ಬಗೆ ಹೆಣ್ಣನ್ನು ಗೆಲ್ಲಲಾಗದ ಪುರುಷನ ನ್ಯೂನತೆಯಂತೆಯೂ ಕಾಣಿಸುವುದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಹೆಣ್ಣಿನ ಕುತಂತ್ರತೆಯೂ ವಿವರಗಳು ಕಾಡುತ್ತವೆ.

ಆಲದಮರವು ಬೆಳೆದ ನಂತರ ತನ್ನ ಕೊಂಬೆಗಳೇ ಇಳಿಬಿಟ್ಟು ಬೇರಾಗಿ ತನ್ನದೇ ಮೂಲಬೇರನ್ನು ವಿಮರ್ಶಿಸುವ ಬಗೆಯಂತೆ ಈ ಕೃತಿ ಕಾಣಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

[Vinayak Hegde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography of K.S. Karanth and his wife Leelamma, written by their children Malavika, Ulhas, and Kshama, stands out for its honesty. It avoids the easy path of hagiography and instead offers a nuanced portrait of a polymath who contributed prolifically across literature, theatre, dance, politics, and science. The book especially focuses on the children’s own experiences—the joys and complexities of growing up with a father whose brilliance was both a gift and a burden.

Alongside intimate family memories, the narrative also explores Karanth’s relationships with his literary peers and the impact of those exchanges on cultural and intellectual landscape of his time. The final chapter, dealing with his decline in health and faculties, has a candid tone—almost as if the children felt the need to set the record straight, particularly after their mother’s passing. It adds a raw, human edge to the story, reminding us that genius often comes with costs borne not just by the individual but also by those closest to him.

For me, the book reads as much as a family chronicle as it does a cultural biography—an exploration of what it means to live in the shadow of brilliance, to love and admire a figure who could be both inspiring and difficult, and to honor that legacy without glossing over its complexities.

[Srikanth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always had this curiosity to know about the personal lives of great personalities to get a closer look at the person and to understand them from that vantage point. In that regard, this book is an honest account of the interactions of Shivaram Karanth's three children with their parents and their childhood in Balavana. Also, there is an account of how Karanth spent his last days and changed his will a couple of times. This reminds me of another great writer of our times, Dr. S.L.Bhyrappa who also kept changing his will in his last days.

[Vidya Ramakrishna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading ‘Growing Up Karanth’ was quite an emotional ride. Seeing Shivarama Karanth not as the public figure we admire, but as a father, through the honest and intimate eyes of his children was truly moving. It obviously offered a perspective I had never encountered in his autobiographies, revealing a more human and vulnerable side of the man that he was.


It was really interesting to get a first-hand account of what it was like to grow up with Shivarama and Leela Karanth as parents. I was especially struck by the portrait of Leela Karanth - a fine lady whose great personality, talents and varied interests are known to only a few.  A woman of immense energy and grace, she stood as a steady support behind Shivaram Karanth during his formative years and turbulent phases. One can only imagine how challenging it must have been to live with a genius and face all the brunt that comes with it. But sadly in addition, she had to endure personal trauma with the tragic loss of their young son and her own battle with illness. Her final years are a real tragedy - with a strained relationship with her life partner, the mental agony she faced must have been far greater than the physical pain.


As for Shivaram Karanth himself, it's well known that his life wasn’t an easy one at all but reading about his flaws, misjudgments and the emotional distance he sometimes created with his own people brought forth a complex mix of admiration and melancholy. 


The book’s closing lines struck a lasting chord: “...as far as people were concerned, Kota Shivarama Karanth was their property... However ‘growing up Karanth’ was a uniquely personal experience to each one of us. No one else could claim that rare privilege.” That sentence lingers long after the last page is turned, leaving us with a heavy heart.

[Ramachandra M · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Growing up Karanth’ penned by the three children of the mighty Karanthajja: Malavika, Ullas and Kshama; is probably first of its kind! They’ve depicted their childhood—growing up, and learning from the great man, in an engrossing manner. There’s not a chapter in this book that’s bland. This impressive biography is very candid, and also throws some light on the not-so-good aspects of Mr Karanth; which, is, an audacious feature of this book. The revelation of his spouse Leela Karanth’s sacrifices for decades, when he was dabbling with various things in life, will leave you teary-eyed for sure. I enjoyed reading this book. If you’re a fan of Karanthajja and want to know more about him, get this book. It will definitely not disappoint you.

[Srikanth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A generation of mine know K Shivarama Karantha as 'Karanthajja' (Grandfather Karantha); I was a regular reader of his famous column in the Kannada weekly magazine 'Taranga'. When I was growing up started reading many novels and other non-fiction by Shivarama Karantha and realised how wast personality of him. I also read the autobiography by Shivarama Karantha a few years back. This book tells you the views of his children. Karanth's all three children are very bright as their father in their fields but entirely different from their father. We could see the Shivarama Karantha in their children regarding how they inspired, grew and chose their professional and personal life. I have always loved reading about my favourite author and enjoyed reading this book.

[Kishan Mallya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good insight in to personal life of Kota Shivarama karanth by his 3 children how he followed his dreams and started balvana at Puttur and how it was supported by his wife in it’s up and down as Shivaram Karanth didn’t have stable salaried job throughout his life , insights in to his political life and political scenarios of coastal Karnataka , Karanths Yakshagana experiments and also this book has solved my question on mystery of copyright person for all Karanths books.

[Chandan Pandey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably when you are staying in Karnataka you will know who is Shivaram Karanth. However, you might not know about Lella Karanth, a woman who can totally be considered as a pillar of success behind Karnath.

This Biography by three of his children provide some of the hidden and beautiful movement from there childhood.

[Sanath Kumar JH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biographical recount of life of polymath Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth by three of his children. This book is well written and an excellent read. It throws light into the inner workings of creative genius. Must read for anyone who is interested in Karanth's life and his work.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography from children of the Kannada Literary Giant. A perspective that gives a picture of how it will be to be children of a personality with admirers.