JurgenP55205038 at 16:28, 10 March 2026

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{{Short description|Indian Kannada novelist}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer 
|name = A. N. Krishna Rao (A Na Kru)
|image = A. N. Krishna Rao.jpg 
|caption =
|pseudonym = A Na Kru
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1908|05|09}}
|birth_place = [[Kolar, Karnataka|Kolar]], [[Kolar district]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1971|07|08|1908|05|09}}
|death_place = [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]], India
|occupation = Novelist, playwright, critic
|nationality = Indian
|period =
|genre = Fiction
|subject =
|movement =
|signature =
}}

'''Arakalagudu Narasingarao Krishna Rao''' (9 May 1908 – 8 July 1971), popularly known as '''Anakru''', was an Indian writer. He is one of the best-known writers in the [[Kannada]]-language and was popularly known as ''Kadambari Sarvabhouma'' (''lit'', "Universal monarch of Novels"). The inception of the ''Pragatishila'' ("progressive") movement in [[Kannada literature]] is credited to him. He received an honorary doctorate from the [[Mysore University]] and is also a recipient of the [[Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award]].

==Life==
Anakru was born on 9 May 1908 in the [[town of Kolar]] of the erstwhile [[Kingdom of Mysore]] (in present-day [[Karnataka]], India).{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} to Narasinga Rao (father) and Annapoornamma (mother). The family traces its roots to [[Arkalgud]] town in the [[Hassan district]] of [[Karnataka]]. At the start of his career, he edited literary Kannada magazines such ''Katha Manjari'' and ''Vishva Vani''.<ref name="dh">{{cite web|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Content/Nov42008/spectrum2008110398607.asp |title=Remembering A na kru |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |date=4 November 2008 |access-date=22 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916032852/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Content/Nov42008/spectrum2008110398607.asp |archive-date=16 September 2011 }}</ref> He was also an editor of the [[Kannada Sahitya Parishath]]'s publication ''Kannada Nudi'' ("Kannada speech"). Anakru was nominated as the president of 42nd [[Kannada Sahitya Sammelana]] held in [[Manipal]].<ref name="dh"/> He is known for his passion for his native language Kannada. Once when introducing Anakru to an audience, [[Masti Venkatesh Iyengar]], one of Kannada's most well-known writers said "I am a Tamil Kannadiga, [[Sir Mirza Ismail]] is a Muslim Kannadiga, and Anakru is a pure Kannadiga". This tribute from the likes of Masti mirrors the Kannada fervour Anakru was known for.

Anakru fought for the unification of [[Kannada]] speaking regions, when Kannada speakers were spread across different provinces in [[British India]]. He started a movement to promote and popularize Kannada. He openly criticized people in authority who neglected Kannada. In one such case, he wrote an article in the ''Kannada Nudi'', criticizing the [[Hindi]] oriented policies of R. R. Divakar (the first governor of Bihar), the President of [[Kannada Sahitya Sammelana]] in 1929. On being asked to apologize, Anakru resigned from the post of the editor.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} Anakru lived most of his life in his house (called ''Annapoorna'') in Vishveshwarapuram, a suburb in South [[Bangalore]].<ref name="dh"/> He died on 8 July 1971 at the age of 63.

==Literature==
Starting with his first novel, ''Jeevanayathre'' ("Journey of life"), Anakru wrote for about 40 years and authored more than a hundred novels.<ref name="dh"/> He was a prolific writer and his literary output exceeded eighty thousand pages. When he started writing, the ''Navodaya'' form of [[Kannada literature]] was in vogue. He rejected this form because he felt such writings were a creation of aesthetes and did not reflect the disturbing realities of life.<ref name="bk">P. K. Rajan (1989), p112</ref> He came up with themes that formed a new movement in itself, called ''[[Pragatishila]]'' ("progressive"). Anakru saw literature as an instrument of social change. Influenced by Anakru, other promising writers such as [[Ta Ra Su]] (T.R. Subba Rao), [[Basavaraj Kattimani]] and [[Anupama Niranjana]] wrote novels that belonged to the ''Pragatishila'' genre.<ref name="bk"/>

Not known to follow the beaten track, Anakru penned three novels, ''Nagna Sathya'', ''Shani Santaana'' and ''Sanje Gaththalu'', with themes dwelling on the topic of prostitution for which he was criticized for depicting vulgarity in these novels.<ref name="bk1">Sisir Kumar Das (1995), p404, 405</ref> To defend his theme, Anakru wrote in his work ''Sahitya mattu kama prachodane'' ("Literature and the propagation of lust"): "If telling the truth is vulgar, then I am a vulgar writer. If the act of covering with a cloth, a downtrodden helpless naked woman on the street is vulgar, then I am a vulgar writer".<ref name="bk1"/> His non-moralistic approach to writing and extensive usage of dialogue contributed to vast readership.<ref name="bk2"/>

His magnum opus novel Natasarvabhowma runs for 750 pages, delves into the dire state of Kannada drama world, during the early 20th century. He provides the details about what was ailing the Kannada drama companies and provides valuable suggestions on their improvement. The novel covers the life of fictitious stage actor Rajacharaya, his struggle to establish as an actor and then to run the drama company as its proprietor. This novel was first published in 1940 and was way ahead of its time. The novel was criticized for celebrating the extramarital affairs of Rajacharya. However out of 750 pages hardly 3–4 pages covers this and the rest wonderfully depicts the do good nature of Rajachraya, where he donates majority of his earnings to charity. Krishna Raos love for the Kannada culture, its people and his quest to see the Kannada speaking areas integrated comes out clearly. He severely criticizes the language bigotry and tries to convey that all languages are great through Rajacharya.

Anakru wrote many novels where the protagonist was an artist. These novels follow a plot which narrates the story of a gifted musician who becomes famous, only to succumb to the charms of a woman. This leads to his subsequent failure as his commitment on the art deteriorates. At the end, the artist either overcomes this to regain his touch or succumbs completely to passion leading to his eventual failure.<ref name="bk6">C.N. Ramachandran, Si. En Rāmacandran (2001), p55</ref> One of Anakru's most popular novels ''Sandhyaraaga'' belonged to this theme and narrates of the life of a dedicated musician while contrasting him with his mean brother.<ref name="bk2">K. M. George (1992), p182</ref> a Kannada movie based on this novel in 1966 received critical acclaim. This same novel motivated [[Beechi]], one of the great [[Kannada]] humorist, to contribute to [[Kannada literature]]. Other notable novels written by Anakru with on theme are the ''Mia Malhar'', ''Udayaraga'', ''Sahitya Ratna'' and ''Vijayanagara Samrajya (11 novels)''.

==Awards and honours==

*President of the 43rd [[Kannada]] Sahitya Sammelana held in [[Manipal]]
*[[Sahitya Akademi]] Karnataka State award.
*Honorary Doctorate in Literature from [[Mysore University]]

==Writings==
'''Novel'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*''Kalankini''
*''Amara August''
*''Kamini Kanchana''
*''Bannada Baduku''
*''Hosilu Datida Hennu''
*''Deva Priya''
*''Rukmini''
*''Shani Santhana''
*''Sandhyaraaga''
*''Kannadammanna Gudiyalli''
*''Amrutha Manthana''
*''Pankaja''
*''Marjala Sanyasi''
*''Kasthuri''
*''Aashirwada''
*''Anugraha''
*''Bhoomigilidu Banda Bhagavanta''
*''Enakshi''
*''Chitrakale''
*''Adrushta Nakshatra''
*''Janatha Janardhana''
*''Vishwa Bandhu Basavanna''
*''Eedari Aadhari''
*''Sangrama''
*''Tayiya Karulu''
*''Shubha Samaya''
*''Yaariguntu Yaarigilla''
*''Kabbinada Kaage''
*''Natasarvabhowma''
*''Nidumaamidi Sannidhiyavaru''
*''Kannina Gombe''
*''Maralu Mane''
*''Samadarshana''
*''Udayaraga''
*''Nara Narayana''
*''Punaravatara''
*''Hengarulu''
*''Deeparadhane''
*''Sangrama Dhureena''
*''Parivarthane''
*''Bhuvana Mohini''
*''Huliyuguru'' (Vol 1–3)
*''Gajina Mane''
*''Narabali''
*''Maneyalli Mahayuddha''
*''Rana Vikrama''
*''Sarthaka Sahitya''
*''Sahitya Samaradhana''
*''Kattida Banna''
*''Kagadada Hoo''
*''Muyyige Muyyee''
*''Daadiya Maga''
*''Akkayya''
*''Abhayapradhana Mattu Tejobhanga''
*''Nagna Sathya''
*''Hennu Janma''
*''Jeevanadhi''
*''Abhimana''
*''Sanje Gathalu''
*''Sakidha Aliya''
*''Kulaputra''
*''Taayi Makkalu''
*''Annadatha''
*''Chitra Vichitra''
*''Ratna Deepa''
*''Kalavidha''
*''Bhumi Tayi''
*''Chiranjeeve''
*''Stree Mukha Vyaghra''
*''Hosa Suggi''
*''Aparanji''
*''Roopashree''
*''Kanneeru''
*''Bhagyadha Baagilu''
*''Arulu Marulu''
*''Honne Modhalu''
*''Keerthi Kalasha''
*''Hosa Huttu''
*''Gruhalakshmi''
*''Hegadharu Badhukona''
*''Mudimallige''
*''Barahagarana Baduku''
*''Kunkuma Prasada''
*''Dharmapathni''
*''Garuda Machee''
*''Vijaya Vidyaranya Mattu Thapobala [Vijayanagara seris – Harihara, bukka, Harihara II]''
*''Punya Prabhava Mattu Prouda Prathapi [Vijayanagara Seris – Devaraya – I, Devaraya – II]''
*''Mohana Murari Mattu Yashodundhubhi [Vijayanagara Seris – Saluva Narasimha, Sri Krishnadevaraya ]''
*''Abhaya Pradhana Mattu Tejobhanga [Vijayanagara Seris – Sri Krishnadevaraya, Sri Achyutadevaraya ] ''
*''Aaliya Ramaraya Mattu Pralayananthara [Vijayanagara Seris – Viajyanagara downfall, Araveedu Dynasty]''
*''Veerashiva Sahithya Mattu Samskruthi''
*''Aparajethe''
*''Bhamamani''
*''Miya Malhar''
*''Panjarada Gini''
*''Jathaka Pakshi''
*''Papiya Nele''
*''Gowri''
*''Sumuhurtha''
*''Jeevana Yatre''
*''Srimathi''
*''Natasarvabhowma''
*''Kanchana Ganga''
*''Anna Thangi''
*''Kaalachakara''
{{div col end}}

'''Play'''

*''A Na Krishnarayara Pouranika Natakagalu''
*''A Na Krishnarayara Samajika Natakagalu''
*''A Na Krishnarayara Ithihasika Natakagalu''

'''Criticism'''
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*''Kannada Kularasikaru''
*''Sahitya Ratna''
*''Bharateeya Kala Darshana''
*''Sajeeva Sahitya''
*''Nataka Kale''
*''Sahitya Mattu Kamaprachodane''
*''Karnatakada Hitha Chinthane''
*''Sahitya Mattu Jeevana''
*''Bharateeya Samskruthi Darshana''
*''Samskrutiya Vishvarupa''
*''A Na Kru Avara Samagra Veerashaiva Sahitya''
*''Bharateeya Chitrakaleyalli Raja Ravivarmana Sthana''
*''Kannada Sahitya Mattu Samskruti''
*''Sahitya Mattu Yugadharma''
{{div col end}}

'''Biography'''
{{div col}}
*''Bharathada Bapu''
*''Karnatakadha Kalavidharu'''
*''Kailasam''
*''Deenabandhu Kabeera''
*''Sri Basavannanavara Amritavani''
*''Allamaprabhu''
*''Kannada Kula Rasikaru''
{{div col end}}

'''Autobiography'''

*''Amara Chetana''
*''Barahagarana Baduku Mathu Nannannu Naane Kande''

'''Children's books'''
{{div col}}
*''Shree Krishnadevaraya : Kannada Nadu Mattu Kannadegara Parpampare''
*''Kempegowda – Kannada Nadu Mattu Kannadigara Parampare''
*''Sarvagna Kavi – Kannada Nadu Mattu Kannadigara Parampare''
*''Yalahanka Bhupaala''
*''Sundharu Samsara''
{{div col end}}

'''Religion & Other'''

*''Bhagavadgeetaarthasaara''

'''Short Story'''

*''Neelalochane Mattu Ithara Kathegalu''
*''A Na Kru Avara Samagra Katha Sankalana''

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last= Rajan|first= P. K.|title=The Growth of the Novel in India, 1950–1980|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=1989|isbn= 978-81-7017-259-8}}
*{{cite book |author=K. M. George|title= Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems|orig-year=1992|year= 1992|publisher= Sahitya Akademi|isbn= 978-81-7201-324-0}}
*{{cite book |author=Sisir Kumar Das|title=A History of Indian literature|orig-year=1991|year= 1995|publisher= Sahitya Akademi|isbn= 978-81-7201-798-9}}
*{{cite book |author=C.N. Ramachandran, Si. En Rāmacandran|title=K. Shivaram Karanth|orig-year=2001|year= 2001|publisher= Sahitya Akademi|isbn= 81-260-1071-1}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, A. N. Krishna}}
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:Kannada people]]
[[Category:Kannada-language writers]]
[[Category:People from Kolar]]

A. N. Krishna Rao - Revision history

JurgenP55205038 at 16:28, 10 March 2026