Being Volume IV of the Series International Ecncylopaedia of Indian Literature (Vol. I dealing with the literature of Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit & Apabhramsa: 1987; Vol. II and III covering Tamil and Assamese literatures respectively), the present Kannada work offers articles on all important poets, dramatists, fiction writers, essayists and critics and their important works from the beginning of Kannada literature down to the present times. The entries are arranged alphabetically. Generally articles on Indian writers go with their Christian names, but there are cross references under their surnames. This would enable one to locate the writers easily. The articles have been compiled in consultation with the late Shri D.L. Narasimhachar, a celebrated Kannada scholar and Professor and Head of the Department of Kannada in Mysore University and Dr. K.M. Krishna Rao, Retd. Professor and Head of the Department of Kannada, Osmania University, and edited by Dr. Ganga Ram Gar. The Editor of International Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature Series. For non-Kannada readers and for those who want to have a bird’s eye-view of Kannada literature. Dr. K.M. Krishna Rao has prepared a Survey, which has been placed in the beginning of the volume. The first work of its kind in English about Kannada Literature. It should serve the purpose of a handy reference tool. It is a must for the libraries of colleges, universities, Institutes, academies and for scholars. It should prove quite useful where Kannada is studied but also where there is a comparative study of modern Indian languages. It also serves the purpose of those non-Kannada scholars, who happen to come across names off Kannada writers and their works. Since Kannada forms a language of the Dravidian group, the Encyclopaedia should attract special attention in south India. Kannada literature is studied throughout the world and it should find a place there.
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