Pandharinathacharya Galagali

Pandit Pandharinathacharya Galagali (10 July 1922 — 29 August 2015) was a Sanskrit scholar, author, poet, journalist, and orator.

He has authored over 50 books in Kannada and Sanskrit, among which are Shri Shambhu Linga Vijaya Champu (Sanskrit), Raaga Viraga (Kannada), Bharata Swaatantrya Sangramasya Itihasaha (Sanskrit), and Mahabharatada Mahileyaru (Kannada). 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 (Presidential Award of India) 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 Kurmacharya 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 Kurmacharya Galagali and uncle Ramacharya 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, Acharya Galagali established the Veda Purana Sahitya Mala to translate and publish the 18 Mahapuranas into Kannada (14 have been translated into 18 volumes so far).

For over forty years, Acharya Galagali served as the editor for the following newspapers:
 * Shri Sudha (Kannada)
 * Madhura Vani (Sanskrit)
 * Panchamrutha (Kannada)
 * Vaijayanti (Sanskrit)
 * Tatvavada (Kannada) - Published by Akhila Bharat Madhwa Mahamandala.

Style of writing
Pandit Galagali's predominant prose style follows that of Banabhatta while 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 [revived] 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.

Awards and recognition

 * "National Award" by Sahitya Akademi for Shambhu Linga Vijaya Champu, a masterpiece in Sanskrit Champu (a genre consisting of a combination of prose and poetry) - 1983
 * Ramkrishna Dalmia's "Sri Vanee Nyaasa" award—Considered the Sanskrit equivalent of a Jnanpith Award. - 21 July 2003
 * Rashtrapati Award from the first president of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad - 1994
 * Kannada Kalidasa title conferred by Samyukta Karnataka.
 * Vice President of Bijapur's Sanskrit Sahitya Sammelan
 * Rajya Prashasti from the state of Karnataka.
 * Mahamahopadhyaya honorary degree of Sri Venkateswara University awarded by Rashtriya Samskrita Vidyapeetha of Tirupathi
 * Gold medal from Shringeri and Kanchi Kamkoti Math
 * Dhyana Pramoda title conferred by Shri Satyatma Tirtha of Uttaradi Math
 * Raghavendra Anugraha from Raghavendra Swami Math in Mantralayam.
 * Vidvatkula Tilaka by Bangalore Nagarikaru
 * Vishwesha Tirtha Prashasti awarded by Pejavara Math - 2003
 * Kavi Kula Tilaka title conferred by Admar Math
 * Sahitya Ratna title conferred by Vibhudesha Tirtha of Admar Math
 * Sachastra Pravachana Vichakshana title conferred by Palimaru Math
 * Sanskriti vahaka title conferred by Dharma Sanskriti Prathisthana
 * Shastra Pravachana Ratna and Purana Teertha titles conferred by Bhandarkere Swamiji
 * Vidyadhi Raja title conferred by Mulubagilu Math