THE WRITER OF SEVEN EPICS

Dr Latha Rajashekhar has been a distinguished member of the literati of Kannada literature for almost 3 decades. She is a noted poetess, short stories author, novelist and ardent promoter of the Kannada language. Her works have been published in leading local, national and international newspapers and periodicals. She has been interviewed, and her literary accomplishments have been broadcasted, on various radio and television channels. She travels extensively within the country and abroad in pursuit of her writing and for the promotion of Kannada language and literature.

A nature-loving conservationist, Dr Latha Rajashekhar has been titled Prakruti Kavi. She has utilized an innovative free verse style and penned many collections of poems that celebrates nature’s beauty. Dr Latha’s love for nature and poetry made her research and pursue a PhD in “Kuvempu Kavyadalli Prakruti - ondu aadhyayana “.

Dr Latha has been encouraging the state's young generation poets and writers through her foundation, Kavya Loka Trust, for years. It also conducts many cultural and literary programmes for budding writers and artists to showcase their talents.

A philanthropist at heart, she is a generous donor to various orphaned, visually challenged, differently-abled and animal welfare charities. She believes that education is key to economic empowerment and have supported hundreds of economically backward students to pursue their education. She always lends a helping hand to victims of natural calamities and contributes to relief and rehabilitation funds.

A champion of women’s causes, she is an icon to be reckoned with. Her writings encompass issues specific to women exploitations. She spends a lot of time and resources working to better the lives of underprivileged women. She always supports causes or movements that help to free women from being exploited.

Dr Latha is a member of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy. Never a bystander, she was a vanguard in fighting for language-oriented causes, particularly for according 'Classical Language Status' to the Kannada language in November 2008. She presided over Mandya District Women Writers' Conference, the Mandya District Sharana Sahitya Sammelana and Mandya District Kannada Sahitya Sammelana.

An avid traveller, she has been to the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Switzerland, Scotland, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, the Bahamas, Dubai, Nepal, Hong Kong and more, which helped her study and understand the world better. This led to her 4 books on America, Scandinavia, Europe, Dubai.

Born on 2nd June 1964, in Ambigarahalli in rural Karnataka to father Mr M. Krishnegowda (PWD engineer) and mother Mrs. K.S. Kaveramma, Dr Latha, a determined girl, was always encouraged to forge her own path in the male-dominated world of literature, at that time. She grew into a fine, strong woman who is a popular, knowledgeable, orator. She has a funny side making her quite the happy and easy-going person in her personal social circle. Her husband, Dr H.B. Rajashekhar, a well-respected paediatrician, continues to support her career and life choices wholeheartedly as he has from when they started their lives together. Amongst all the feathers in her cap, she has always been the dedicated and beloved mother of her son Dr H.R. Sanjay (Surgeon) and 2 daughters Dr H.R. Sowmya Dinesh (Gynaecologist) and Dr. Sowjanya Sharath Chandra. She is heartily thankful for the continued encouragement, love, support and guidance from her family.

Dr Latha’s brilliance in penmanship comes from extensive research and learning a far-thinking and contemplative mind and the amazing ability to expound the eternal values of life in simple but detailed narratives. Her in-depth understanding of religion is easily conveyed in her unique style of writing. It never fails to strike a chord and resonates deep within the reader. It makes one pause, think and understand humanity through universal love, mercy, compassion, peace, equality, truth, service and sacrifice. Celebrated for her 5 epics, she is also famous for her poems on nature, 4 travelogues and has more than 20 literary works to her credit. They all embody human values. They have been translated into Hindi, Urdu, English, Portuguese and Spanish. Some of her poem collections have been recorded, sung by the famous singers Mysuru Ananthaswamy, Manjula Gururaj, Ratnamalapraksh and Shankar Shanabhogh.

The first of 5 epics, Buddha Mahadarshana – The great Vision of The Buddha is a rich voluminous book on the vision of The Buddha, with about 800 pages and 86 chapters. It has been given the honour and distinction of being the first epic of the 21st century, making Dr Latha Rajashekhar the most highly acclaimed poet of the 21st century. It is unique as it combines poetic art with a powerful description of the greatness of The Buddha. It is a literary meditation and stands out differently from other epics created in terms of new similes, examples, metaphors and comparisons. The philosophy of love, compassion, service and sacrifice have been narrated in unparalleled poetic beauty.

Her second epic, Yesu Mahadarshana - The great Vision of Christ, is a landmark in modern Kannada literature. It is a beautiful exposition of the Holy Bible narrated in poetic form. It is described as the 'Fifth' Gospel. Running into about 1000 pages over 172 chapters, this epic presents the eternal message of love and compassion for which the Lord Jesus Christ has been revered throughout the world, in the most refreshing poetic style. The essential humanity of Jesus Christ and other Biblical Characters have been more than adequately illustrated in such a way that these characters come alive as if they are living amongst us. Deep research and studies of the old and new testaments and the 4 Gospels with visits to the places where Lord Jesus was born and supposed to have walked, went into the making of this book. Dr Latha Rajashekar extensively toured Israel, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Rome, the 'Vatican and Egypt for this.

Basava Mahadarshana - The great Vision of Basaveshwara, Dr Latha’s 3rd epic, which is being printed now, would also be more than 1000 pages long. The values cherished by Basaveshwara have been beautifully scripted. Basavanna was the expression of the human values of devotion, honesty, truth, service, forgiveness and compassion. He was an embodiment of the saying 'Work is Worship'. He comes as a messenger to redeem mankind from the clutches of caste, creed and religion. These noble ideals have been eloquently elucidated by Dr Latha Rajashekar.

Mahaveera Darshana – The Vision of Mahaveera, is the 4th epic by the esteemed Doctor. The 800 paged philosophical epic placing the luminous persona of Mahaveera in the centre of the story, offers the grand vision of the Jain religion along with its cultural ethos. The exposition of Panchakalyana - from his conception in his mother’s womb, his birth, his penance, his renunciation and his attainment of Nirvana; the five stages of his life – is intricately meticulous and thorough. One of the tenets this book illuminates is the conviction that all religions are equal. In 2013, this phenomenal book was granted the highest distinction with a grand procession, on an elephant, through the streets of Mysore city – Gaja Gourava - before it was released in the presence of thousands of people. Dr Latha is the only poetess to have been awarded this honour. This epic is now being translated into Hindi.

By completing Sri Rama Mahadarshana – The great Vision of Sri Rama, her fifth epic, Dr Latha Rajashekhar has fulfilled her vow of writing five epics in the honour of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, the presiding deity of the Kannada language. This is a record in world literature. A monumental achievement, Sri Rama Mahadarshana spreads over 1032 pages in 205 chapters, consisting of seven books (Samputa’s) - Sri Avathara Samputa, Sri Ayodhaya Samputa, Sri Aranya Samputa, Sri Kishkindha Samputa, Sri Sundara Samputa, Sri Lanka Samputa and Sri Mangala Samputa. In this story of Rama, human desires, worldly aspirations, likes and dislikes of humankind and the culminating longings of the human psyche are the issues deliberated by the poetess. Truth, sacrifice, nobility, character, moral values, kindness and commitment win over all other considerations. The poetess has successfully waded through a maze of characters, some heroic and some other villainous, with the consequent, inevitable conflict between good and evil. The style of writing can be compared to the grace of Mysore-silk, the language is simple but dignified and the thoughts left with the reader are everlasting.

At a time when the world is going through unspeakable pain, chaos, disruption and violence in the name of religion, Dr Latha’s literary masterpieces of 5 epics, shine a beacon of light, reassuring and providing soothing calm for world peace and religious harmony. She has come to be described as the wonder of the literary world, perhaps even becoming, the only poetess to have achieved this feat, in any language. She has expanded the horizon of Kannada and also Indian and the world’s religious literature.

Countries visited by Dr Latha Rajashekhar

Dr Latha Rajashekhar yearns to travel which is her passion too and thus she hopes to enlarge her vision of the world. So far she has visited countries like USA, UK, Italy, Switzerland, Scotland, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, France, Monaco, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Lanchistain, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Bahama, Denmark, Finland, UAE, Nepal, Hongkong, China, Srilanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, etc., besides visiting many places in India.