Renowned Kannad scholar MM Kalburgi was shot dead by unknown persons around 8.40 a.m. in Dharwad on Sunday.
He was rushed to the District Civil Hospital, but was declared dead by doctors.
The Kannada scholar was conferred with the National Sahitya Akademi Award in 2006 for his collection of research articles, titled 'Marga 4'.
He had also won the State Sahitya Akademi Award, the Pampa Award and the Yakshagana Award.
Born in Yargall village of Sindgi taluk of Bijapur district, Kalburgi's primary and high school education took place in his village and Sindgi.
He studied B.A from Bijapur while he completed his M.A. in Kannada from the Karnatak University Dharwar in 1962.
He is a noted Kannada epigraphist and a renowned scholar of the Vachana literature.