B. M. Srikantaiah

B.M. Srikantaiah
© Kamat's Potpourri
Born	1881 Nagamangala taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka
Died	1946 Bangalore, Karnataka
Occupation	Poet, Writer, Professor
Nationality	India
Genre	Fiction
Literary movement	Navya

B M Srikanthaiah or B M Shri (1881-1946) was one of the most influential authors, writers and translators of Kannada literature.

He was born in Sampige village, Mandya District Nagamangala taluk. He studied at Srirangapatanam and Mysore, before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from a Bangalore College and a Master of Arts degree in Madras. He joined Maharaja College in Mysore as a Lecturer. After completing 25 years of service at there he moved to Central College in Bangalore, later Vidyaranya College under the K. E. Board in Dharwad. He was also an honorary professor at the Kannada Department of the University of Mysore when it was founded in 1927.

One of this most famous works is the translation of the hymn Lead, Kindly Light as Karunallu Baa Belake.

Known as the Kannada Kanva for his guardianship of Kannada Literature, he was instrumental in encouraging and promoting Kannada and inspiring writers such as Kuvempu and G. P. Rajarathnam to write in Kannada, at a time when English was becoming the common medium. His book of translations, English Geethegalu is one of the famous books. Where the mind is without fear; a poem by Tagore has been translated to by him so beautifully that it sounds betters than the original! (Elli manakalukirado elli tale baagirado..)

He was awarded the 'Raja Sevaskta' award by the Maharaja of Mysore and was the president of the Kannada Saithya Sammelana in 1938 at Gulburga.

A circle in Bangalore where 100 feet road and CMH road meet, has been named after him: BMS Circle.

Works

• Gadayuddha Natakam (play)
• Aswatthaaman (Play)
• Honganasugalu (Poetry)

Translations

• English Geetagalu (English Songs, 1921).

Litrary Criticism

• Kannadigarige olleya saahitya (Good literature for Kannada People)
• Kannada Kaipidi (History of Kannada Literature)