An unusual book on two cultural heroes is set for launch this evening. Pallava Prakashana is releasing Nataraj Huliyar’s Inti Namaskaragalu, a collection of what the writer calls ‘creative narratives’ about P Lankesh and D R Nagaraj.
Huliyar told City Express, “The book takes a look at their works, but refrains from using heavy critical jargon. Nagaraj was my PhD guide and Lankesh inspired me. Their views about culture, politics and literature are distinct and relevant today.”
Lankesh, famous as a poet and playwright, gave up his professorship at Bangalore University and ran a weekly magazine for over two decades. Nagaraj was a literary critic who wrote in Kannada and English, and was regarded in literary circles as one of India’s sharpest minds.“Nagaraj was talking about the effects of globalisation even before it set foot here in India,” says Huliyar.
He put together the book because he felt the intellectual and academic world was neglecting the contribution of Lankesh and Nagaraj to literature and culture. “I thought I was morally bound to do this book,” says Huliyar, who teaches literature at the Kannada department in Bangalore University.
Inti Namaskaragalu (which is how letters are signed off in Kannada, roughly translating to ‘With regards’), is like a post-modern novel, mixing several geners of literature: memoir, literary criticism, poetry, and a short play with Lankesh and Nagaraj as characters. “It analyses their personalities and narratives,” he explains.
Well-known theatre person Prasanna will release the book. Writer Agrahara Krishnamurthy is the chief guest. A theatre performance by Dharmendra Urs and Mounesh Badigeri follows the release. Inti Namaskaragalu will be launched at 6 pm, Yavanika, on Saturday.