The 20th Century produced extraordinary literature in Bhārata. Dr. SL Bhyrappa’s distinction is that he is the one of the last such geniuses firmly rooted in Tradition. He served as a link to the Sanatana tradition in an era of cultural crisis. In the midst of enormous deracination, westernisation, cultural assault from various ideological quarters, Dr. SL Bhyrappa was that cultural guard of the society protecting it from all quarters. However, he did not assume this role with any sense of polemical indulgence. Instead, his writing achieved this in all its art, craft and literary genius. One of the greatest activists of our time without actually being one. Dr. SL Bhyrappa became that polestar for Sanatana Dharma in the last few decades for many generations who were navigating the high seas of Modernity. This Dhruva Nakshatra shone very bright filling them with that confidence about the direction in which they were headed.
Dr. SL Bhyrappa has also that unique distinction of being a classical writer with a popularity that humbles most populists. His novels sold like hot cakes and saw multiple reprints. This, often, drew some sneer from others who deemed themselves as serious writers. His popularity came from two elements. On the one hand he was rooted. He has an extraordinary knowledge of Indian Philosophy, History, Itihasa-Purana and Classical Literature. On the other hand, he had an exceptional understanding of Modernity, Contemporary Realities and fault lines of the society. He did not seek to resolve them. Instead, he sought to throw a torch light on it from all directions to make it visible, accessible and comprehensible. Every single conflict between Modernity and Tradition can be found explored in his writing. The intensity, enormity and comprehensiveness with which he achieved this will continue to guide future generations as a light house.
Dr. SL Bhyrappa was also among the few writers of the 20th Century most translated into other languages. In Kannada, the language in which he wrote, he is a household name. Today, most Kannadigas would have felt the loss of the grand old man of the family. His popularity, across India, is unmatched. Few English writers in our times have managed that popularity. His novels Vamshavriksha (The Uprooted), Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane (The Orphaned), Saartha (The Caravan), Avarana (The Veil), Mandra, Grihabhanga (The Broken Home) achieved popularity across states and languages. In Marathi, his popularity and reach was nearly the same as in Kannada. His novel Parva was translated by Sahitya Akademi into multiple languages and continues to be one of the most popular titles of Akademi over decades. His novels achieved immense success as cinema, plays and television serials and were picked for adaptation by geniuses such as Prakash Belawadi, BV Karanth, Girish Karnad and Girish Kasaravalli. Thus, in his own time Dr. SL Bhyrappa became a successful and venerated pan Indian writer. This name and fame has spanned over multiple decades and many generations. Just in the previous decade, his Avarana not only brought him success all over again, but anchored the nation that was exploring resolution to an important civilizational crisis.
Every single novel he wrote was of epic proportion. Characters became metaphors for cultural processes and civilizational flows. The genius of his writing was in the architecture of the novel and crafting of the plot. They were perfectly designed to capture every conflict. They were at once realist novels but from the mundane and earthly realities Dr. SL Bhyrappa masterfully crafted civilizational metaphors that reflected historical realities in all its enormity. The genius lay in the vision and comprehension of reality. It came as a result of extraordinary scholarship, commitment to study, travel, field visits and learning from ground reality. He immersed himself in specific environments not just to ensure mundane realism but to bring forth authenticity and completeness to what he was writing. His commitment was to Truth – both of literature and reality. He did not see them as any different from each other. Like an elephant he was alone in his path in an era while literature meant ideology, politics, status and power.
Dr. SL Bhyrappa is now part of Pancha-Bhoota. His art and craft will continue to mesmerize readers and be aspirational. His courage, perspective are a part of everybody’s hearts and minds. That we lived in the times of Dr SL Bhyrappa is something we could be proud of.
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