Bengaluru mourns the loss of one of its most renowned literary stars today. SL Bhyrappa, Kannada novelist, philosopher, and screenwriter, passed away at the age of 94. He succumbed to a cardiac arrest on September 25.
Bhyrappa’s novels, deeply rooted in Indian philosophy and history, often explored human nature, society, and morality in ways that a very few other contemporary Kannada author did.
His books did not fit neatly into any particular literary movement. Whether it was Navodaya, Navya, Bandaya, or Dalita, they received acclaim without any tie to literary movements. This same independence in thought made his work both widely popular and occasionally controversial.
Over decades, Bhyrappa’s novels became bestsellers not only in Kannada but also in Hindi and Marathi.
Some of his most celebrated novels include ‘Vamshavruksha’ (1972), ‘Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane’ (1977), ‘Matadana’ (2001), and ‘Nayi-Neralu’ (2006). And, several of these stories were adapted into films.
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His storytelling also extended to television. Series like ‘Gruhabhanga’ and the Hindi adaptation of ‘Daatu’ reached audiences across India.
In one of the major controversies, he supported industrialist Narayana Murthy surrounding the instrumental rendition of the national anthem and the Kaveri river dispute. He also engaged in a memorable debate with playwright Girish Karnad over the historical interpretation of Tippu Sultan.
His contributions to literature earned him some of India’s highest honors. He received the Saraswati Samman in 2010. The Government of India recognized his massive impact on culture and literature with the Padma Shri in 2016. Similarly in 2023, he received the Padma Bhushan.
ಶ್ರೀ ಎಸ್.ಎಲ್. ಭೈರಪ್ಪ ಅವರ ನಿಧನದೊಂದಿಗೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಆತ್ಮಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯನ್ನು ಕದಲಿಸಿದ ಮತ್ತು ಭಾರತದ ಆತ್ಮವನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟಿದ ಒಬ್ಬ ಧೀಮಂತ ವ್ಯಕಿತ್ವವನ್ನು ನಾವು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ನಿರ್ಭೀತ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾಲಾತೀತ ಚಿಂತಕರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಅವರು, ತಮ್ಮ ಚಿಂತನಶೀಲ ಕೃತಿಗಳಿಂದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಶ್ರೀಮಂತಗೊಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅವರ ಬರಹಗಳು ಪೀಳಿಗೆಗಳನ್ನು… pic.x.com/yAWYGxx4GI
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 24, 2025
Following the news of his passing, tributes have been pouring in from all corners. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to honor SL Bhyrappa. He posted a picture and wrote: “With the passing of Shri SL Bhyrappa, we have lost a profound personality who shook our conscience and touched the soul of India. His writings inspired generations to reflect, question, and engage more deeply with society. Om Shanti.”
Readers, writers, and politicians expressed their condolences online. Many are remembering him as a thinker who enriched Kannada literature worldwide.