Distinguished Kannada poet and ‘Rashtrakavi’ G S Shivarudrappa died at 12.10 pm at his Banashankari 2nd stage residence here on Monday. He died of renal failure and was ailing for the last two months, his family said. He was 87.
He was the third Kannada poet who was bestowed with the title ‘Rashtrakavi’ by the state government in November 2006, after his teacher K V Puttappa (Kuvempu) and M Govinda Pai. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Pampa Prashasti. Many of his poems have been rendered into songs, most notably ‘Ede Thumbi Haadidenu,’ ‘Uduganaveshita, Neenu Mugilu Naanu Nela’ and ‘Yaava Haadu Hadali.’