Bengaluru: Girish Karnad— one of the best-known faces of Kannada theater, author, filmmaker and activist— died in a Bengaluru hospital on Monday, his family said. Karnad, 81, was awarded the Padma Shri in 1974, the Padma Bhushan in 1992, and the highest national award for literature, the Jnanpith Award in 1998. "It will be a holiday today for one day for all government offices, schools and colleges due to the sudden demise of Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad. It is also clarified that this is in accordance with the steps taken by the government when Jnanpith award winners have previously passed away", said a press statement from Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. "Playwright, actor, institution-builder and patriot, Girish Karnad was a colossus.

Source: Mint June 10, 2019 04:45 UTC