When Kambar and Karnad composed a play...

BELGAUM: Noted Kannada research scholar S S Bhusanoormath who was the ‘Guru’ of Chandrashekhar Kambar, had predicted long back that his ‘shishya’ will obtain a top literary honour. His words were proved right this Monday.   Kambar remembers S S Bhusanoormath and Savalagi Shivalingeshwar Swami of Savalagi Math who helped him when he was studying.The talent of Kambar was unparalleled. Once A K Ramanujan, the noted English and Kannada writer, told a folk story to Kambar as well as to Girish Karnad and asked them to transform the story into a drama.While Karnad wrote Nagamandala, Kambar’s drama was titled as Sirisampige. Although the two plays had the same subject, critics feel that Kambar’s approach was more effective. Kambar had once told me that when he was young, he had gone to Dharwad to participiate in a literary conference which was presided over by a famous poet. Kambar presented his poem which was totally different from that presented by others. However the poet in his speech criticised Kambar, which only spurred him to struggle hard and achieve success. Kambar pleased the ‘Sahitya Saraswathi’ with his hard and honest work. Kambar  encouraged many young writers from Belgaum district. He never hesitated to come over to Belgaum to release the book of a newcomer. The Kannada University of Hampi was the dream child of Kambar.When he was made the special officer of the proposed university he toured all over the state and the country to conceptualise a hitherto unforeseen university. He had Tagore’s Shantiniketan in his mind and gave shape to the project.