GIANT GENIUS BHYRAPPA AND MIRRORS OF HIS NOVELS

“What is found here may be found elsewhere; but what is not here cannot be found anywhere else.”
This famous Vyāsokti (utterance of Vyāsa) from the Mahābhārata can just as well be applied to the extraordinary body of literary works created by Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa. With 24 novels and four volumes on literary criticism, along with books on aesthetics, social issues, and culture, Dr. Bhyrappa’s contribution to Indian literature is unparalleled. Numerous Ph.D. dissertations have been based on his works, and his novels have been translated into English and various Indian languages, with his magnum opus, Parva, also available in Chinese and Russian. Additionally, scholars and readers alike have written extensively, analyzing and commenting on his works, further underscoring the vast influence of his literary genius.

In this ever-growing field of literary discourse surrounding Dr. Bhyrappa’s works, Subbu Publications has released a new book titled ‘Giant Genius Bhyrappa and Mirrors of His Novels’. What sets this book apart is its unique approach—it does not merely offer critique or analysis of his works. Instead, compiled by Smt. Vijaya Haran, it serves as a tribute to the dedicated readers and admirers of Bhyrappa, who, inspired by his novels, took it upon themselves to ensure his works reached a wider audience beyond the limitations of language.

At the book’s launch, Dr. Pradhan Gurudatta, a long-time associate of Dr. Bhyrappa and translator of seven of his novels, quoted from Tagore’s Gitanjali in praise of translators:

“Thou hast made me known to friends whom I knew not.
Thou hast given me seats in homes not my own.
Thou hast brought the distant near and made a brother of the stranger.”

In India, books with reasonable sales are often translated into other languages, usually as a commercial endeavor by publishing houses. However, Giant Genius Bhyrappa and Mirrors of His Novels highlights that the translations and adaptations of Bhyrappa’s works are of a different caliber altogether.

Dr. Bhyrappa writes in Kannada, a language that is deeply expressive, natural, and rich in interpretation. For native Kannadigas, reading a Bhyrappa novel in any other language might seem unimaginable. However, of his 24 novels, all but five (Bheemakaya, Doora Saridaru, Matadana, Grahana, and Jalapata) have been translated into multiple Indian and foreign languages. His works have also been adapted into films, plays, radio dramas, audiobooks, and television serials, greatly expanding their reach. Through their dedicated efforts, translators, creative directors, and producers have played a crucial role in ensuring Bhyrappa’s writings receive the pan-Indian readership and widespread admiration they richly deserve.