| K. S. Bhagawan | |
| Birth Date: | 14 July 1945 |
| Birth Place: | Kalahalli, Kingdom of Mysore (now in Karnataka), British Raj (now India) |
| Occupation: | Writer, professor, translator |
| Movement: | Bandaya movement |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Education: | MA, D.Litt |
| Alma Mater: | University of Mysore |
| Notable Works: | Shankaracharya mattu Pratigamitana (ಶಂಕರಾಚಾರ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರತಿಗಾಮಿತನ) Kuvempu Yuga (ಕುವೆಂಪು ಯುಗ) |
| Children: | 1 |
Kallahalli Sannegowda Bhagawan (born 14 July 1945),[1] known as Prof. K. S. Bhagawan, is an Indian Kannada writer, rationalist, translator, critic, scholar and retired professor. In addition to his works on Hinduism, Indian culture and history, he has translated the works of William Shakespeare including Julius Caesar and Hamlet.[1] He is a recipient of many awards including the Rajyotsava Award, Kuvempu Award and the Lokayata Award.[2] [3]
Bhagawan acquired a post-graduate degree in English language from University of Mysore.[1] As a professor, he taught English at Maharaja's College in Mysore.[4] At the same time, he worked as a writer and translator. In 1982, his work Shankaracharya and Reactionary Philosophy (original title: ಶಂಕರಾಚಾರ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರತಿಗಾಮಿತನ), a collection of essays, on how Adi Shankara, an 8th-century Hindu theologian, advocated the caste system strongly, destroyed Buddhist viharas and was against education for women, shudras and dalits, was published.[1] [5] It was met with criticism from right-wing Hindu groups who issued threats to his life. His other books in Kannada include Badalaavane, Antarya and Kuvempu Yuga. As a translator, he translated popular works of William Shakespeare to Kannada. It includes Merchant of Venice as Venisina Vartaka, and others such as Julius Caesar, Hamlet and Othello..
Bhagawan was chosen for the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement for the year 2013.[6]
At an event in Mysore on 15 February 2015, Bhagawan said that he would burn certain pages of the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita. Police also filed FIR against him for "hurting" religious sentiments.[7] He said that verse 32 and 33 in chapter 9 of the scripture describes women, vaishyas and shudras as "sinners" [paapayonaha].[8]
Following the murder of another Kannada writer and rationalist M. M. Kalburgi, a Bajrang Dal activist from Bantawala threatened that Bhagawan would be the next target for "mock[ing] Hinduism",[9] with the arrest of the activist, the security at Bhagwan's residence was tightened.[10]
(translation of Swami Dharma Theertha's History of Hindu Imperialism)
Shakespeare's plays: