B.D. Ganapathy

B. D. Ganapathy was a prolific writer, scholar and journalist writing in English, Kannada and Kodava Takk, covering religion, anthropology and philosophy. He is particularly noted for his coverage of the Kodagu (Coorg) region and the Kodava ethno-linguistic group, his own birthplace and community.

During the Indian Independence Movement, he was the sub-editor of the Kodagu, a pro-Independence weekly Kannada newspaper founded by his father-in-law, editor and freedom fighter Pandyanda I.

Among Ganapathy’s most noted works is his 1967 Kodavas (Coorgs), their customs and culture. Other works include: The Eternal Quest (1970), Naṅga Koḍava (1973 in Kodava takk), Kodavas (1980) and Kanni Kāvēri (1990 in Kodava Takk). Among his works two books are in the Kodava Language: Nanga Kodava and Kuttambolicha. His Kannada book on Kodava culture Kodagu mattu Kodavaru has won him the State Academy Award. He wrote 11 works in 16 publications and in three languages.