Renowned poet, writer and researcher G S Shivarudrappa, who left his own indelible imprint in the Kannada literary world, died at his residence here today.
Shivarudrappa (87) had been ailing for some time and the end came this afternoon, his family said. He is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter. He was a recipient of the Central Sahitya Akademi award, Karnataka Sahitya Academy award, besides others including the Soviet Land Nehru award.
Shivarudrappa was among the triumvarite to have been conferred the prestigious "Rashtra Kavi" (National Poet) title by the Karnataka government, apart from Kuvempu and Manjeshwar Govind Pai. Shivarudrappa, who has made a lasting contribution to Kannada literature, has published 13 collections of poems and several prose and research works, besides travelogues.
Describing Shivarudrappa's death as an "irreparable loss" to the state and Kannada literary world, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a two-day state mourning from today as a mark of respect to him. He also announced a holiday for government offices and educational institutions tomorrow. The funeral of Shivarudrappa would be performed with full state honours, he said.
