Pandit Pandharinathacharya Galagali was a Vedic scholar, author, poet, journalist, and orator.
He has authored over 50 books in Kannada and Sanskrit, among which are Shri Shambhu Linga Vijaya Champu, Raaga Viraga, Bharata Swatantraya Sangramasya Etihasaha, and Mahabharatada Mahileyaru. He was also the editor of five Kannada and Sanskrit newspapers for over four decades. He is the recipient of various awards and honours, including the Rashtrapati Award and Dalmia Award. He is also notable for being the first person from the state of Karnataka to win the Sahitya Akademi Award for contributions in Sanskrit.
Early life
Pandharinathacharya Galagali was born on 10 July 1922 to Kurmachar Galagali in a village named Galagali. His formal education was stopped in the first grade, and he began his study of Vedic literature under his father Kurmachar Galagali and uncle Ramachar Galagali.
Adulthood
From 1944 to 1960, he worked as a Sanskrit teacher at Shankrappa Sakri High School in Bagalkot. In 1961, he moved to Gadag, where he started a Sanskrit school called Veera Narayana Pathashala. In 1971, Galagali achar established the Veda Purana Sahitya Mala to translate and publish the 18 Mahapuranas into Kannada. For over forty years, Galagali achar served as the editor for the following newspapers:
Shri Sudha
Madhura Vani
Panchamrutha
Vaijayanti
Tatvavada - Published by Akhila Bharat Madhwa Mahamandala.
Style of writing
Pandit Galagali's predominant prose style follows that of Banabhatta, whereas his poetic technique resembles that of Kalidasa.
"He excels in the usage of alankāras like Parisamkhyā, Ullekha, Upamā, Ílesa, Mālopamā and Anuprāsa. Galagali is a versatile author and has covered a vast spectrum of various genres in his writings. He is in fact an epitome of creativity and learning in Sanskrit, and being an excellent orator, has Sanskrit culture through his speeches also."
Publications
Over the course of a lifetime, Pandit Galagali has published 22 original Sanskrit works, 21 original Kannada works, and 23 translated works.
Original Sanskrit Works
Original Kannada Works
Translated Kannada Works
Awards and recognition
"National Award" by Sahitya Akademi for Shambhu Linga Vijaya Champu, a masterpiece in Sanskrit Champu - 1983
Ramkrishna Dalmia's "Sri Vanee Nyaasa" award—Considered the Sanskrit equivalent of a Jnanpith Award. - 21 July 2003
