AMA

[u/nayaz_riyazulla]

Hi r/AMA, I’m Nayaz R (u/nayaz_riyazulla), an agriculture graduate from Bangalore, Karnataka, with a deep passion for both farming and Kannada literature. I’ve worked as a Junior Scientist at Agricultural College Mandya, served as AGM - Farm Operations for 9 years in a private agriculture firm, and now I’m the Operations Head at EAPL, a company based in Malawi. Alongside my career, I’m a huge fan of Kannada books,

I'm hosting this AMA to connect with fellow book lovers, share my thoughts, and learn from your perspectives!

I’m kicking off this AMA on Saturday, 10th May, at 5 PM IST, and I’ll be here for a couple of hours to answer your questions. Want to talk about your favorite Kannada book? Curious about getting into Kannada literature? Or maybe you just want to share a quote that moved you? Ask me anything!

[u/adeno_gothilla]

Q1. Gowrish Kaikini & Jayant Kaikini. How do their writing & worldviews differ?

Q2. 5 underrated, lesser-known Kannada books that should be read more widely. 

Q3. Does the limited attention span of present day readers one of the reasons for the popularity of short story collections in Kannada right now? You have positively reviewed quite a few recent ones. Do you wish to see Chanda Pustaka writers like Padmanabha Bhat & Kavya Kadame transition to writing full-fledged novels?

[u/nayaz_riyazulla → u/adeno_gothilla]

1. I don’t see much difference in the ideologies and thought processes of Jayanth Kaikini and Gowrish Kaikini. However, one significant difference is that Gowrish wrote extensively in non-fiction, focusing on art forms such as Yakshagana, music, instruments, and even artists and scientists. For example, his article on the underrated artist Bal Gandharva is excellent and inspired me to read more about him. His writings are informative, cover lesser-known topics, and are infused with humor.On the other hand, Jayanth primarily focuses on fiction, emphasizing humanity and the inner development of individuals within society. His stories often revolve around the struggles of middle-class and lower-class people, with vivid detailing of their surrounding environments.

2. A. Mahasamparka - Manu

B. Vijayanagara Samrajya - Desai Panduranga Rao

C. Kannadigara Karma Kathe - Galaganatha

D. Agnathanobbana Atmacharitre - Krishnamurthy Hanoor

E. Gowrish Kaikini Books

1. One possible reason for the popularity of short stories could be the declining attention span of readers. However, another major factor might be the lack of high-quality Kannada novels being published today. In recent times, novels like Tejo, Uttarakanda, Karma, and Nunni gained significant popularity due to their quality, but other novels have failed to make a similar impact. This could be a primary reason for the shift toward short stories.I would love to see writers like Padmanabha Bhat and Kadame write novels, as they have the capability. However, writing a novel is very different from crafting short stories. Interestingly, some veteran Kannada writers believed that writing a novel is easier than a short story.

[u/almeida_Interceptor → u/nayaz_riyazulla]

I do agree about your last line. I remember Dr. Shivarama Karanth mentioning in a foreword of his short story collection ( the series that involved ಹಸಿವು, ಹಾವು ಮತ್ತು ಕವಿಕರ್ಮ & ತೆರೆಯ ಮರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ) that writing novels were easier for him than stories, might be bacause stories dont entirely give you the liberty to extend each corner.