Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa was born on July 20, 1931, in Santeshivara village in the Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan district in Karnataka. At a young age, he lost his mother and brother due to the bubonic plague. He did small and odd jobs and even collected alms to provide for his education. In his formative years, he was influenced by the writer Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar.
At (the age of) 13, Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa participated in India’s Independence movement. He completed his primary education in Channarayapatna and moved to Mysuru for further education. Sometime later, Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa suddenly dropped out of school and, following his cousin’s advice, travelled with him for a year. He worked as a railway porter (coolie) in Mumbai. He met a group of ascetics in Mumbai and joined them in search of spiritual peace. Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa’s deep love for Indian culture and traditions, keen interest in historical and social subjects, quest for truth and reality, literary perspective, and travel experiences propelled him to conduct historical research and to compile impactful novels.
Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa earned an M.A. in Philosophy and a Ph.D. in Aesthetics. He retired as a professor of Philosophy and currently serves as a ‘National Professor’. He worked for over three decades as a professor of Philosophy at NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training). His novels have been adapted into plays, films, and television series in Hindi, Kannada, and Telugu. This article introduces him and his exceptional contributions.
Special Column
The sacrifice by the soldiers and generals for the Hindavi Swarajya as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is supreme. Similarly, in the present times, many devout Hindus and patriotic citizens of this country have been striving to protect the Nation and Dharma. The ‘Warriors of Hindutva’ is a series of articles that sheds light on their life and their struggle to protect Hindu Dharma. We hope that it serves as a catalyst for the mission of establishing Hindu Rashtra and inspires many others. – Editor
1. Bestseller novelist
Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa is an exceptional literary figure who writes in Kannada. For over 25 years, he has been one of the bestseller novelists. Many of his novels have been translated into various Indian languages. For the past decade, he has also been the bestseller novelist in Marathi and ranks among the top five bestseller authors in Hindi. He is a thoughtful and conscious writer who vividly expresses basic human emotions through his novels. In addition to his profound knowledge of Indian philosophical and cultural traditions, Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa also has rich personal experiences of rural and urban life since childhood. Thus, his characters are deeply rooted in Indian ethos and values. Numerous seminars have been held and continue to be held on his novels. His work has inspired the publication of several volumes of literary criticism.
Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa, a luminary who has been relentlessly striving to present the true history of India, was excluded from the National Syllabus Revision Committee!
“Once, Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa asked Mr Parthasarathy, the chairman of the ‘National Syllabus Revision Committee’ (Mr Parthasarathy was a policy advisor and a trusted aide of Indira Gandhi, and he was also close to the Jawaharlal Nehru family), “What does one infer when he saw a Nandi staring at a mosque in Varanasi ? If students ask their teachers questions on this topic, how and what do you expect the teachers to respond ?” Mr Parthasarathy had no answers to these obvious and straightforward questions.
Mr Parthasarathy took me to his chamber and said,You are from Karnataka, and I am from Tamil Nadu. We must act like brothers. Let us not fight. I left his chamber as he finished. However, I raised the same concerns in the meeting that took place 15 days later, and an enraged Parthasarathy concluded the meeting abruptly. After a few days, a Government notification was published which said that the National Syllabus Revision Committee had been reconstituted, and my name was missing from the list.
The Government appointed one left-leaning historian in my place. This committee immediately changed the history and social studies books and hid the real history from students. All lessons were favourable to the left-leaning ideology and the authentic history was dropped. The lessons projected outside invaders as heroes and India’s real treasures, history and knowledge found no place in those books.”
– Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa
2. Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa’s books get included in the academic curriculum
Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa’s books have been included in the undergraduate and postgraduate curricula of universities in Karnataka. Additionally, around 20 PhD theses have been based on his works. He has compiled 24 novels, four volumes of literary criticism, and several books on aesthetics, social issues, and culture. Six of his novels have also been translated into English.
3. Various awards conferred upon Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa
A. ‘Padma Shri’ and ‘Padma Bhushan awards’ by the Government of India in 2016 and 2023 respectively
B. ‘MamoniRaisom Goswami National Literature Award’ from the Assam Sahitya Sabha in 2016
C. Honorary Doctorate by the University of Mysore in 2016
D. Sahitya Akademi Fellowship by the Government of India in 2015
E. ‘Vagvilasini Award’ from the Dinanath Memorial Foundation, Mumbai, in 2012
F. Hedgewar Award in Kolkata in 2007
G. N.T.R. Award in Andhra Pradesh in 2007
4. Research and Fellowships
A. Appointed as a National Research Professor by the Government of India.
B. One of the five members of the Indian literary delegation invited by the Government of China.
C. Recipient of the Ford Foundation Award for studying the cultural issues faced by Indian immigrants in the United States.
D. Held a British Council Fellowship at the School of Education, University of London in 1977.
A candid conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa during their meeting
After Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa was awarded the ‘Padma Bhushan’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi folded his hands, took a few steps forward, and respectfully said, “Namaskar Bhyrappaji, how are you?”. Bhyrappaji responded, “I am SL Bhyrappa from Karnataka, a Kannada novelist,” (with a gesture of greeting and maintaining decorum). Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a big smile on his face, immediately took Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa’s hand in his and reassured, “Sir, who doesn’t know you?What novel are you working on now?” Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa hesitated and answered, “Actually, I’m not writing a new novel.” To this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded, “Please don’t stop writing novels, Sir. Your readers in India need your books and intellect.” Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappaacknowledges the request smiles in response.
SLB: “I am SL Bhyrappa from Karnataka, a Kannada novelist.”
PM Narendra Modi: “Sir, who doesn’t know you? Which book are you writing now?”
SLB: “Not any new book really.”
PM Modi: “Please don’t stop writing, Sir. Your readers across India want your books and intellect.” pic.twitter.com/mA1FemNtdB
— Dr. SL Bhyrappa (@SLBhyrappa) September 16, 2024
5. Exploring the world through travels (World Travels)
Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappais an avid listener of Indian classical and Western music and a keen student of the arts. He was passionate about travelling since childhood. He has travelled extensively around the world, visiting glaciers, the forests of the Amazon, the deserts of Africa, and the bustling cities of Europe and America. He has trekked across the Alps, the Rockies, the Andes, and Mount Fujiyama. However, trekking in the Himalayas remains his cherished passion.
6. Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa’s academic publications in English
A. Values in Modern Indian Educational Thought (1968) (New Delhi: National Council of Educational Research and Training)
B. Truth & Beauty: A Study in Correlation (1964) (Baroda: M.S. University Press)
C. 20+ research articles published in various journals such as Indian Philosophical Quarterly, Darshana International, and Journal of the University of Baroda.
Key Reflections of Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa
1. History is not tied to slogans, ideals, and reform movements. It is to rid ourselves of notions of doctrines and movements and look at the incidents of the past as they happened. And this can’t happen unless we allow our minds to be cleared of the illusions created by the present.
2. It is the individual who gives significance to an award, not the award that makes the individual great. The true reward for me is the enduring legacy of my work.
3. Some quotes from ‘Aavarana – The Veil’compiled by Dr (Prof) SL Bhyrappa
- The act of concealing truth is known as ‘Aavarana’, and that of projecting untruth is called ‘Vikshepa’. When these occur at the level of an individual, it is known as ‘avidya’ and when they occur at the level of a group or the world, it is known as ‘Maya’.
- The purpose of reading history is not to deride or vilify anyone. It should not be. At best, the study of history should help us to honestly, dispassionately understand the rights and wrongs of people we regard as our ancestors and use those lessons to shape our present and future.
- The goal of history is to enable the forward march of humanity towards progressiveness.
7. Participation in other National and International initiatives
A. International Conference, University of Udine,Italy (2007)
B. Chairperson, Association of Kannadigas Meeting, Dubai (2007)
C. Association of Kannada Kootasof America, Washington D.C., USA (2006)
D. Inaugural Speech, All India Marathi Literary Conference, Goa (1994)
E. East-West Writers’ Meeting, Bled, Slovenia (1991)
F. Representative of India at UNESCO Seminar on Moral Education, Tokyo, Japan (1975)
G. President and Recipient of Presidential Honours at more than 25 literary conferences held across India
‘Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar committed a crime by giving information to Pakistan before the attack’ : Says Congress
Reconsider suspension of the ‘Indus Water Treaty’ : Jihadi Pak pleads with India
How India can establish Ram Rajya today
On the occasion of Goa Statehood Day (30th May 2025)
Judicial Overreach : A growing challenge to Bharat’s democratic ethos
If Indira Gandhi was alive, I would have asked her, ‘Why didn’t you taken back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after winning the 1971 war ?’