Writer and academician S.M. Vrushabhendra Swamy (88) died of a heart attack at a private hospital here on Wednesday. He is survived by his son. The final rites will be held here on Thursday.
He was the last of senior-most academics who taught at Karnatak University, Dharwad. Born in 1928 at M.B. Ayyanahalli in Ballari district, he graduated from Maharaja College, Mysuru, and completed postgraduation in Kannada, receiving a gold medal, from the University of Mysore where he was a student of Kuvempu.
He joined the Department of Kannada, Karnatak University, Dharwad in 1961 and served in various capacities. He had authored 18 books.
Condoling his death, senior poet Siddhaling Pattanshetti said he was a prolific writer, a good reader and listener. He was the only person to speak authoritatively about Kuvempu and his works in this region. He was credited with creating innovative textbook literature when he was heading the textbook preparation wing. In his death, Karnataka had lost a senior academic, writer and good human being, Mr. Pattanshetti said.