S.L.Bhyrappa, one of modern India’s most popular novelists, died of Cardiac Arrest on September 24 at the age of 94 at Rashtrotthana Hospital in Bengaluru. His work stands out for its uniqueness in theme, structure, and characterization. Over the years, he has been one of the highest-selling authors in Kannada. His writings have transcended language barriers and have been widely translated into Hindi and Marathi.
Bhyrappa’s work does not conform to the contemporary literary movements in Kannada such as Navodaya, Navya, Bandaya, or Dalita. He explored a wide range of topics, and his writings have often shifted perspectives, inspiring readers to question societal norms and engage in intense debates.
In the passing of Shri S.L. Bhyrappa Ji, we have lost a towering stalwart who stirred our conscience and delved deep into the soul of India. A fearless and timeless thinker, he profoundly enriched Kannada literature with his thought-provoking works. His writings inspired… pic.twitter.com/ZhXwLcCGP3
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 24, 2025
He was awarded the 20th Saraswati Samman in 2010. In March 2015, Bhyrappa received the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. The Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri in 2016, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2023.
Early Life
S.L. Bhyrappa was born in Santeshivara, a village in the Channarayapatna Taluk of Hassan district, Karnataka. He lost his mother and brothers to the bubonic plague during his early childhood. Bereft of family support, he took on odd jobs early in life to fund his education. During his childhood, he was influenced by the writings of Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar.
Later, he moved to Mysore, where he completed the rest of his education. At one point, he impulsively quit school on the advice of a cousin and wandered for a year. During this time, he went to Mumbai, where he worked as a railway porter. There, he met a group of sadhus and joined them in their spiritual journey. After wandering with them for some time, he returned to Mysore to resume and complete his education.
S.L. Bhyrappa studied at Navodaya High School, Channarayapatna, and Sharada Vilas High School, Mysore. He earned a B.A. (Hons) in Philosophy from Mysore University, where he also completed his M.A. in Philosophy and was awarded a gold medal. He later earned a Ph.D. from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda for his thesis Satya Mattu Soundarya (Truth and Beauty), written in English.
In his career, Bhyrappa served as a lecturer in Logic and Psychology at Sri Kadasiddheshwar College, Hubli; Sardar Patel University, Gujarat; NCERT, Delhi; and the Regional College of Education, Mysore, retiring in 1991. His works, published in English, Kannada, and Sanskrit, are studied in Indian Studies and Western Philosophy courses. He currently lives in Mysore with his wife and has two sons.
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