M. Chidananda Murthy

{{Short description|Indian historian (1931–2020)}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox writer  | name = M. Chidananda Murthy | image = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_date = {{birth date|1931|05|10|df=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|01|11|1931|05|10|df=y}} | birth_place = Doddamallapura, Hirekogalur, [[Channagiri|Channagiri taluk]], [[Shimoga District]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]] | death_place = [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], India | occupation = Professor, writer, historian | period = | genre = Non Fiction | subject = | movement = | signature = | website = }}

'''M. Chidananda Murthy''' (10 May 1931 – 11 January 2020)<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/state/top-karnataka-stories/veteran-kannada-scholar-m-chidananda-murthy-dies-793422.html |title=Veteran Kannada scholar M Chidananda Murthy dies|author=Jagadish Angadi |website=www.deccanherald.com|date=11 January 2020 |accessdate=11 January 2020}}</ref> was a [[Kannada]] writer, researcher and historian. He was a well-known scholar in [[Karnataka]] specializing in the history of Kannada language and ancient [[Karnataka]]. He was also known for his campaign to conserve the monuments [[Hampi]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://expressbuzz.com/Cities/Bangalore/protect-monuments-in-hampi-chidananda-murthy/141615.html |title=Protect monuments in Hampi: Chidananda Murthy |accessdate=2010-04-16 |url-status=dead |date=22 Jan 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601163606/http://expressbuzz.com/Cities/Bangalore/protect-monuments-in-hampi-chidananda-murthy/141615.html |archivedate=1 June 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref> and to secure classical language status to Kannada Language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/17/stories/2006041707890400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524155425/http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/17/stories/2006041707890400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 24, 2006 |title=Press demand for according classical status to Kannada|date= April 17, 2006|work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=2016-12-01}}</ref> Murthy also articulated that uniform civil code and an anti-conversion law must be enacted by the Government in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/25/stories/2006042511010400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821160143/http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/25/stories/2006042511010400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 21, 2006 |title=Chidananda Murthy comes out in favour of uniform civil code|date=April 25, 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=2016-12-01}}</ref>

==Education== Chidananda Murthy obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in 1953 from [[Mysore University]]. He obtained his [[Master of Arts]] degree in Kannada Literature in 1957, also from Mysore University. During his postgraduate studies, he produced his influential essay [[Adikavi Pampa|Pampa]] ''Kavi Mattu Maulya Prasara''.

In Mysore University, he came under the influence of Kannada literary figures like [[Kuvempu]], [[P. T. Narasimhachar|PuTeeNa]], Raghavachar and historians like [[S. Srikanta Sastri]]. Another literary stalwart [[T. N. Srikantaiah|TeeNamShri]] guided Murthy in doctoral research on Kannada inscriptions. His doctoral thesis was titled ''A cultural study of Kannada inscriptions''.<ref name="hinduonnet.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/12/25/stories/2002122503180500.htm |title=The Hindu : Pampa Award for Chidananda Murthy |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=Dec 25, 2002 |accessdate=2016-12-01|url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030422013604/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/12/25/stories/2002122503180500.htm|archivedate=April 22, 2003}}</ref> He obtained his PhD degree from [[Bangalore University]] in 1964.

==Career== Murthy was the head of the department of [[Kannada]] Bangalore University. He was also associated with Kannada Shakti Kendra. As a historian most of Murthy's work focused on scientific study of the Kannada Inscriptions.

He attempted to contextualize inscriptions in their socio cultural setup. He produced many books on the history of [[Kannada]] language and [[Karnataka]]. He guided many research students.<ref name="hinduonnet.com" />

==Works== Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://openlibrary.org/a/OL8732A/M._Chidananda_Murthy?books_page=1 |title=M. Chidananda Murthy |publisher=Open Library |date= |accessdate=2016-12-01}}</ref>

*Vīraśaiva dharma, Bhāratīya saṃskr̥ti Prakāśana, 2000 *Vāgartha Bāpkō, 1981 *Vacana sāhitya 1975 *Sweetness and light Sahithigala Kalavidara Balaga, 1989 [microform] *Saṃśōdhane. 1967 *Saṃśōdhana taraṄga. Sarasa Sāhitya Prakāśana, 1966 *Pūrṇa sūryagrahaṇa Aibiec Prakāśana, 1982 *Pāṇḍitya rasa, Kannaḍa Viśvavidyālaya, 2000 *Śūnya sampādaneyannu kuritu. 1962 *Madhyakālīna Kannaḍa sāhitya mattu aspr̥śyate Prasārāṅga, Karnāṭaka Viśvavidyālaya, 1985 *Liṅgāyata adhyayangaḷu Vāgdēvi Pustakagaḷu, 1986 *Kavirājamārga. 1973 *Karnāṭaka saṃskr̥ti Kannaḍa Sāhitya Pariṣattu, 1991 *Karnāṭaka-Nēpāḷa Prasārāṅga, Kannaḍa Viśvavidyālaya, 2003 *Kannaḍāyaṇa Priyadarśini Prakāśana, 1999 *Kannada śāsanagaḷa sāmskr̥tika adhyayana. 1966 *Hosatu hosatu Kannaḍa Viśvavidyālaya, 1993 *Grāmīṇa Bāpko Prakāśana, 1977 *Cidānanda samagra sampuṭa Sapna Book House, 2002 *Basavanna [[National Book Trust]], India, 1972

==Awards== * [[Rajyothsava award]] * [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] * [[Pampa Award]] in 2002 * Alva's Nudisiri Award in 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype%3Dbroadcast%26broadcastid%3D36251 |title=Alva's Nudisiri 2006: Complete Coverage |accessdate=2010-04-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207233042/http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=36251 |archivedate=7 February 2010 |df=mdy|website=www.mangalorean.com }}</ref>

== Illness and death == Chidananda Murthy was admitted to a private hospital in Bangalore on 9 January when he suffered difficulties in breathing. The doctors reported blockage of windpipe by dry cough. His son said that Murthy had stopped solid intakes and was only consuming fluids from past few months, due to his varying health conditions.

However Chidananda Murthy died two days later after the admission to the hospital, on 11 January 2020 at around 4am.<ref name="auto"/> His mortal remains were kept at the city residence in Bangalore for the people to express their last respects. Several dignitaries like [[B. S. Yediyurappa]], [[S. L. Bhyrappa]], [[S. Suresh Kumar]], [[V. Somanna]] expressed their condolences to the veteran's death. The government announced the last rites to be performed with full state honours and respect.

==See also== * [[Kannada]] * [[Kannada literature]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==Sources== *{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110606130426/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2004/05/10/stories/2004051007460400.htm `Religion-neutral society must for secularism']}} The Hindu – 10 May 2004

==External links== *{{cite journal |last1=Zydenbos |first1=Robert J. |title=Vīraśaivism, Caste, Revolution, Etc |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society|date=July 1997 |volume=117 |issue=3 |pages=525–535 |doi=10.2307/605250|jstor=605250 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murthy, M. Chidananda}} [[Category:People from Davanagere district]] [[Category:20th-century Indian historians]] [[Category:Historians of India]] [[Category:1931 births]] [[Category:2020 deaths]] [[Category:Kannada people]] [[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Kannada]] [[Category:Kannada-language writers]] [[Category:University of Mysore alumni]] [[Category:20th-century Indian writers]] [[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]