Ashok Shettar
“Ashok Shettar is a distinguished Kannada writer, poet, historian, and editor, equally at home in the worlds of creative and scholarly writing. He completed his postgraduate studies at Karnataka University, Dharwad, and pursued research at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, from 1981 to 1986. Since 1986, he has been teaching in the Department of History and Archaeology at Karnataka University.
His poetry collection Vishwavidyalayada Vachanalyadolage (Inside the University Library) won the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award, establishing him as a notable voice in contemporary Kannada poetry. Alongside his creative writing, Shettar has written extensively in Kannada and English on history and literature, with numerous articles published over the years.
He has also edited significant scholarly works, including Studies in Karnataka History and Culture (Vol. IV), Malekarnatakada Arasumanetanagalu (The Royal Dynasties of Malenadu), and Kalapayanigaru (Art Travelers).
At BBLF 2025, Ashok Shettar brings his unique perspective as both a creator and chronicler — reflecting on how literature and history intertwine to shape our cultural imagination.”
