Palya Lankesh was an Indian poet, fiction writer, playwright, translator, screenplay writer and journalist who wrote in the Kannada language. He was also an award-winning film director.
Early life and career
Lankesh was born in the small village of Konagavalli in Shimoga, Karnataka. After graduating with an honours degree in English from Central College at Bengaluru, Lankesh completed his Master of Arts degree in English from Maharaja's College, Mysore. His 1976 film Pallavi—a cinematic narration, told from the female protagonist's point of view and based on his novel Biruku—won the National Award for Best Direction. Lankesh quit his job as an assistant professor in English at Bangalore University in 1980 and started Lankesh Patrike, the first Kannada tabloid, which influenced Kannada culture and politics. Lankesh's first work was the collection of short storiesKereya Neeranu Kerege Chelli. His other works include the novels Biruku, Mussanjeya Kathaprasanga, Akka ; the plays T. Prasannana Grihastashrama, Sankranti, Nanna Tangigondu Gandu Kodi and Gunamukha ; the short story collections, Umapatiya Scholarship Yatre, Kallu Karaguva Samaya, Paapada Hoogalu, the translation of Charles Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du Mal and Dore Oedipus mattu Antigone, translation of Sophocles' Antigone and Oedipus Rex.
Lankesh was the Editor of Lankesh Patrike from 1980 until his death in 2000. A socialist and Lohiaite, he was known for his secular, anti-caste and anti-Hindutva views. Before starting Lankesh Patrike, he and friends Tejaswi and K.Ramadas had toured the length and breadth of Karnataka, mobilising people to vote for their new socialist party Karnataka Pragatiranga Vedike This trip, he recounted in one of his editorials, which took him to the remotest parts of Karnataka opened his eyes to the plight of the poor, the Dalits and the Muslims and made him realise his responsibility as a writer and an intellectual towards the society. After his death Lankesh Patrike was split into two, one edited by his daughter Gauri Lankesh and the other managed by his son Indrajit Lankesh. Lankesh's other daughter is the film director Kavita Lankesh. Lankesh Patrike, as the first Kannada tabloid, had a huge impact on Karnataka politics and culture. It led to the setting up of other tabloids like Hai Bangalore and Agni which concentrated more on crime and political scandals.
Death
Lankesh died of a heart attack on 25 January 2000, aged 64.
