P. Lankesh
Encyclopedia
Palegar Lankeshappa was a major India
n writer and journalist, writing in the Kannada language. He is probably the only writer who can be credited with bringing magical realism to Kannada literature apart from innovative use of the language. He was also an award-winning filmmaker.
Les Fleurs du Mal
and Oedipus Rex and Antigone
of Sophocles
) and several plays and films. His 1977 film Pallavi [a cinematic narration, from the female protagonist's point of view, of his novel "Biruku" ] won India's national award for best direction.
Lankesh quit his profession as a professor to direct his debut movie,Pallavi.
P. Lankesh often used the newspaper to campaign on behalf of the oppressed and the minority groups. His articles attacking the politicians, bureaucrats in bitterly laced sarcasm became hugely popular among the public, and gave them a forum to express their anger towards the establishment. Patrike was instrumental in bringing down the governments of late R Gundu Rao and subsequently that of late Ramakrishna Hegde.
It was the political class and the bureaucracy in general that bore the brunt of Lankesh's vituperative articles in the tabloid. Ironically, during his last days, he showed a definite tilt towards the Congress Party
, against which his weekly waged the war in the beginning. He tried to start a political party 'Pragati Ranga' along with other writers and intellectual friends before he supported congress.
Nonetheless, he was the most influential writer in Kannada language during the 1980s and 1990s in Karnataka state history.
are both acclaimed film directors.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n writer and journalist, writing in the Kannada language. He is probably the only writer who can be credited with bringing magical realism to Kannada literature apart from innovative use of the language. He was also an award-winning filmmaker.
Early career
Lankesh began his writing career with Kereya Neeranu Kerege Chelli, a collection of short stories published in 1963. He followed this with several more collections of short stories and poetry, three novels, critical essays, translations (including Baudelaire'sCharles Baudelaire
Charles Baudelaire was a French poet who produced notable work as an essayist, art critic, and pioneering translator of Edgar Allan Poe. His most famous work, Les Fleurs du mal expresses the changing nature of beauty in modern, industrializing Paris during the nineteenth century...
Les Fleurs du Mal
Les Fleurs du mal
Les Fleurs du mal is a volume of French poetry by Charles Baudelaire. First published in 1857 , it was important in the symbolist and modernist movements...
and Oedipus Rex and Antigone
Antigone (Sophocles)
Antigone is a tragedy by Sophocles written in or before 442 BC. Chronologically, it is the third of the three Theban plays but was written first...
of Sophocles
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
) and several plays and films. His 1977 film Pallavi [a cinematic narration, from the female protagonist's point of view, of his novel "Biruku" ] won India's national award for best direction.
Lankesh quit his profession as a professor to direct his debut movie,Pallavi.
Lankesh Patrike
He founded the famous tabloid Lankesh Patrike in 1980. The tabloid gained tremendous popularity among the youth for its no-holds-barred attack against the corruption, nepotism, superstition and religious fundamentalism which had become widespread in Indian politics during the 1970s and early 1980s.P. Lankesh often used the newspaper to campaign on behalf of the oppressed and the minority groups. His articles attacking the politicians, bureaucrats in bitterly laced sarcasm became hugely popular among the public, and gave them a forum to express their anger towards the establishment. Patrike was instrumental in bringing down the governments of late R Gundu Rao and subsequently that of late Ramakrishna Hegde.
It was the political class and the bureaucracy in general that bore the brunt of Lankesh's vituperative articles in the tabloid. Ironically, during his last days, he showed a definite tilt towards the Congress Party
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, against which his weekly waged the war in the beginning. He tried to start a political party 'Pragati Ranga' along with other writers and intellectual friends before he supported congress.
Nonetheless, he was the most influential writer in Kannada language during the 1980s and 1990s in Karnataka state history.
Death
After his death in 2000, his property was divided among his three children: Gauri, Kavitha, and Indrajit Lankesh. Gauri Lankesh took over the editorship of Lankesh Patrike although the ownership went to her brother Indrajit Lankesh. However, Indrajit later expelled Gauri from the newspaper citing Gauri's support to the Naxalite movement in Karnataka. Gauri then started her own tabloid titled Lankesh. Incidentally Indrajit and Kavitha LankeshKavitha Lankesh
Kavitha Lankesh is a renowned filmmaker and director in the Kannada cinema industry.Lankesh is the younger daughter of well known Kannada writer and journalist P. Lankesh. Kavitha holds a Masters in English Literature from the Bangalore University and a diploma in advertising.Kavitha started her...
are both acclaimed film directors.