Veerendra Simpi, English professor and pioneering essayist in Kannada, died in Bidar on May 31 due to age related illness. He was 79-years-old. He will be remembered for his essays and cross translations between Kannada and English. He was among the first to translate into Kannada books and speeches of thinkers such as Bertrand Russell and Guy de Maupassant. He wrote extensively in Kannada about the philosophy of Aurobindo and the Mother. He translated some vachanas and wrote profiles of several Vachanakaras.
He was the recipient of the Karnataka Rajyotsava award and the life time achievement award by the Karnataka Sahitya Academy.
Prof Simpi was the son of celebrated writer Simpi Linganna, who formed ‘Halasangi Geleyaru,’ the group of artists and thinkers in Chadachan in Vijayapura district. Prof Simpi began writing while studying in high school and achieved fame for his prose that had a healthy dose of wit and humour.
Born in Chadachan in Vijayapura district, he attended the village primary school. He went to Karnataka University Dharwad for his post graduate studies. He was taught by stalwarts like V.K. Gokak. He was the batchmate of slain researcher and activist M.M. Kalaburgi. Among his friends are Giraddi Govindaraj and `Champa' Chandrashekar Patil. He had close association with members of the Dharwad Geleyaru group, that included writer Da. Ra. Bendre. He was among the teachers picked by talent scout B.T. Sasanoor who founded the BVB College in Bidar in the 60s.
Hailing from a community of weavers and tailors, he was among the first in his family to enter a University. A congenital condition had left him disabled. He was unable to use one hand and could not stand for long. However, his weakness did not affect his work. His classes were among the most popular in BVB college where he served all his life and the Chidambar education society where he served post retirement.
He was the among the few writers to be chosen as president of two district level Sahitya Sammelanas in Bidar and Vijayapura. He was a teacher beyond compare, said writer Basavaraj Ballur, who was among his students. He kept alive the story telling tradition and organised such sessions regularly. He had a stylish handwriting that was the envy of students, Mr. Ballur said.
His books include Gali Pata, Kagadada Chooru, Bhava Maiduna, Swachanda Manada Suligali, and selected essays. He edited a grand volume on the lives of freedom fighters of Hyderabad-Karnataka. He translated selections from ten essayists from Europe and America.
