BANGALORE: “My horizon of writing has expanded after reading the poems of today’s budding poets”, writer U R Ananthamurthy said.
He was speaking at the launch of his book ‘Samastha Kavya-Aaru Dashakagala Kavithegalu’, a collection of his poems written in the last six decades and U H Ganesh’s ‘U R Ananthamurthy and The Discourse of Modernity’ published by Abhinava Publications at Gandhi Sahitya Sangha on Tuesday.
“After reading the books of poet Gopalakrishna Adiga, I read the books of Irish poet W B Yeats. Later, I read Da Ra Bendre’s works and the books of modern poets. I feel the writings of today’s youths are really challenging and have motivated me a lot,” said Ananthmurthy.
“Creating good literature is also a virtue. There was a time when everything was seen with suspicion. But that is past now,” Ananthamurthy said. He further added that he incurred the wrath many a people through some of his writings.
Speaking on the occasion, poet Chennaveera Kanavi said “Ananthamurthy responds to national and international issues. He is wellversed in writing both creative and non-creative ways. Through his writings he made us realise what we are and also kindled the thoughts of freedom in the hearts of the people”.
Ananthmurthys ‘Samastha Kavya’ is a motivation to the poets of Kannada, observed Kanavi.
Critic Dr C N Ramachandran said there is a need to translate the great works of Kannada into English.