Revolutionary Kannada writer and activist Champa passes away at 83

Champa also opposed the Karnataka state government’s move to introduce English as medium of instruction in state government schools, demanding that Kannada be continued as the language of instruction.

He was a professor of English at Karnataka University, Dharwad and editor of ‘Sankramana’, a Kannada literary publication. He had also served as the head of the Kannada Development Authority and Kannada Sahitya Parishat. A Pampa awardee, the highest literary honour of the government of Karnataka, he returned his award in protest against the assassination of scholar MM Kalburgi.

Patil is survived by his wife and two children.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who visited Champa’s home, paid his respects and said the final rites will be held with full state honours. He said, “His writings with independent thought were sharp. He used to hold a mirror to the system through his insightful presentation of the issues.”