October 6, 2025

Mogalli Ganesh, a senior Kannada writer, critic, and guru of folklore, left us on Sunday at his home in Hosapete, Vijayanagara district. He was 63 years old and is survived by his wife and three daughters. For years, Prof. Ganesh battled serious organ ailments, spending many days in hospital. Born in the humble village of Santemogenahalli in Channapatna taluk, Bengaluru South district, Ganesh came from a rural Dalit family. But he rose like a blazing star in Karnataka’s literary sky. He was famous for his strong, heartfelt writing, fearless criticism, and fresh views on folklore and the lives of the oppressed in Kannada literature. For decades, he taught at Kannada University in Hampi. Ganesh combined deep creativity with bold thinking, a rare mix that gave his writing a powerful punch. His stories, critiques, and folklore studies opened up new worlds for Kannada language and culture, speaking to voices too long ignored. His work is hard to pin down. It blends the pain and fury of Dalit life with the simple beauty of folk culture and the charm of a natural storyteller. Critics often said his power matched that of Devanur Mahadeva but carried a darker, deeper tone. His story collections—Buguri, Atte, Bhoomi, Mannu, Kannemale, and Devaradari—created what is now called the “Mogalli Narrative Mode.” These tales splash raw emotions, deep love for the downtrodden, and a magical realism that grips the reader’s soul. Ganesh changed folklore studies by seeing it through a ‘desi’ or local lens, challenging old western ideas. Books like Desi and Dalita Janapada celebrated the cultural voice of the oppressed as true knowledge and fierce resistance. As a critic, Ganesh never held back. His essays and columns in magazines like Lankesh and Agni boldly questioned the upper caste’s control over literary criticism. Unlike many who outright rejected globalisation, Ganesh believed it could be a key to Dalit freedom. In Dalitaru Mattu Jagathikarana (1998), he argued that globalisation might help break chains of caste and feudal oppression. While his peers like Devanur Mahadeva and Siddalingaiah became active in grassroots fights, Ganesh stayed mostly in academia, fighting through words and literature. In his autobiography Nanembudu Kinchittu, he called his writing itself a form of “social movement,” though this made him feel distant from mass protests. Ganesh’s strong, uncompromising ways sometimes clashed with the literary world. Still, his influence on Kannada thought is vast. He transformed how folklore, criticism, and fiction speak about society. Nanembudu Kinchittu is a raw, honest look at Ganesh’s struggles, solitude, and deep thoughts. It stands as one of Kannada literature’s most fearless autobiographies. Mogalli Ganesh’s fire will keep burning in Kannada literature, inspiring generations to come.

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Tags: Mogalli ganesh, Kannada literature, Dalit writer, Folklore scholar, Kannada university, Literary criticism,