Overview

• Rashtrotthana Hospital in Bengaluru confirmed he suffered a cardiac arrest at 2:38 pm and died at age 94.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed him as a "towering stalwart" whose thought‑provoking works enriched Kannada literature.
• Across more than six decades, he authored about 24–25 novels, including Vamshavriksha, Daatu, Parva, Mandra, Saartha and Aavarana.
• His books were widely translated into Indian languages and English, with several adapted for films and television series.
• He received top honors including the Sahitya Akademi recognition, the Saraswati Samman, the Padma Shri in 2016 and the Padma Bhushan in 2023.