Dr. Srikrishna Bhat Arthikaje, the veteran Kannada scholar, writer, professor and lyricist, passed away in Chennai on October 3, 2026. His death marks the loss of a literary personality whose professional and creative journey remained closely connected with the Kannada language, literature and cultural traditions.
Hailing from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada, Dr. Arthikaje spent a major part of his professional life in Chennai, where he worked for nearly three decades in the Kannada Department of the University of Madras. He eventually retired as Professor and Head of the department.
His contribution extended beyond university teaching. He was also associated with Kannada literary and cultural activities and was known for organising literary programmes, poetry forums and other activities that helped sustain Kannada cultural engagement in Tamil Nadu.
From Puttur to Madras
Dr. Arthikaje's journey from Puttur to Madras was also a journey across linguistic and cultural boundaries. At a time when Kannada literary activity outside Karnataka depended greatly on committed scholars and cultural organisations, he became part of the academic world that kept Kannada studies alive in Tamil Nadu.
His nearly three decades at the University of Madras gave him an opportunity to teach Kannada, engage with literature and contribute to the academic study of the language. His eventual role as Professor and Head of the Kannada Department reflected his long association with Kannada higher education in Chennai. He was not merely an academician. His involvement in literary and cultural programmes earned him recognition as a Kannada organiser, bringing together writers, students and literature enthusiasts.
A Scholar of Kannada Literature
Dr. Arthikaje's literary interests included Kannada's traditional literary forms, grammar and classical traditions. Among the works associated with his name is Kannadadalli Sataka Sahitya (ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಶತಕ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ), a work dealing with the tradition of Sataka literature in Kannada.
Another work associated with him is Kannada Saampradaayika Vyakaranagalu (ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಂಪ್ರದಾಯಿಕ ವ್ಯಾಕರಣಗಳು), dealing with traditional Kannada grammatical traditions.
These works reflect his interest in studying Kannada not only as a modern language but also through its historical literary and linguistic traditions.
Literature Beyond the Classroom
For Dr. Arthikaje, Kannada scholarship was not confined to books and classrooms. His participation in literary gatherings and cultural programmes made him part of the wider Kannada literary community in Chennai. Poetry reading, literary discussions and cultural activities provided platforms through which Kannada continued to find a public space outside Karnataka.
This role was particularly significant in Tamil Nadu, where Kannada-speaking communities depended on cultural organisations and individual scholars to maintain their linguistic and literary connections.
A Professor Who Also Became a Lyricist
Another distinctive aspect of Dr. Arthikaje's creative life was his contribution as a lyricist. His Kannada lyrics became part of devotional music albums and were rendered by established singers. His association with Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna and K. Veeramani brought his words to audiences far beyond literary circles.
The album Murali Gaana, associated with Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, features compositions credited to Dr. Srikrishna Bhat Arthikaje, including songs such as Radhika Radhika, Entha Mahime and Muraliye Muraliye.
His lyrics also appear in the devotional album Bhakthi Suma, sung by K. Veeramani. Songs associated with his name include Rama Rama Jaya, Benne Kallane, Udupi Krishnane, Poojyaya Raghavendraya and Om Shakthi Para Shakthi. Thus, his literary voice travelled beyond academic and literary circles into devotional music.
Bridging Two Cultural Worlds
Dr. Arthikaje's life also illustrates the role played by scholars in carrying a regional language beyond its geographical home.
He belonged to Puttur and coastal Karnataka, but much of his professional life unfolded in Chennai. His work therefore connected the literary traditions of Karnataka with Kannada-speaking communities in Tamil Nadu. Through teaching, writing, literary organisation and songwriting, he worked in different spaces but remained connected to the same language.
A Legacy in Words and Music
The legacy of a scholar is often measured through books, students and institutions. A writer's legacy also survives through words that continue to be read. For a lyricist, there is another form of continuity: songs. Dr. Srikrishna Bhat Arthikaje's contribution encompasses all three.
He was a teacher who shaped students, a scholar who studied Kannada's literary traditions, a writer who contributed to Kannada literature, and a lyricist whose words entered devotional music.
His passing on October 3, 2026, brings an end to a long academic and literary journey. But his association with Kannada survives in the institutions he served, the literary works connected with his name and the devotional songs through which his words continue to reach listeners.
For Puttur, his native region, and for the Kannada literary community, Dr. Srikrishna Bhat Arthikaje will be remembered as a scholar who carried Kannada beyond Karnataka while remaining rooted in its literary and cultural traditions.
✍Umesh Kumar Shimladka, Sr. Journalist
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