Getting to know Shivarama Karanth from the other side of the fence

Reading ‘Growing Up Karanth’ was quite an emotional ride. Seeing Shivarama Karanth not as the public figure we admire, but as a father, through the honest and intimate eyes of his children was truly moving. It obviously offered a perspective I had never encountered in his autobiographies, revealing a more human and vulnerable side of the man that he was.

It was really interesting to get a first-hand account of what it was like to grow up with Shivarama and Leela Karanth as parents. I was especially struck by the portrait of Leela Karanth - a fine lady whose great personality, talents and varied interests are known to only a few.  A woman of immense energy and grace, she stood as a steady support behind Shivaram Karanth during his formative years and turbulent phases. One can only imagine how challenging it must have been to live with a genius and face all the brunt that comes with it. But sadly in addition, she had to endure personal trauma with the tragic loss of their young son and her own battle with illness. Her final years are a real tragedy - with a strained relationship with her life partner, the mental agony she faced must have been far greater than the physical pain.

As for Shivaram Karanth himself, it's well known that his life wasn’t an easy one at all but reading about his flaws, misjudgments and the emotional distance he sometimes created with his own people brought forth a complex mix of admiration and melancholy. 

The book’s closing lines struck a lasting chord: “...as far as people were concerned, Kota Shivarama Karanth was their property... However ‘growing up Karanth’ was a uniquely personal experience to each one of us. No one else could claim that rare privilege.” That sentence lingers long after the last page is turned, leaving us with a heavy heart and a profound respect for the people behind the public persona.

-Vidya Ramakrishna