Dr. A.K Shastry (Anant Krishna Shastry) is a historian in the state of Karnataka, India. He's the first scholar to extensively study and research manuscripts called 'Kadata'. He also has studied more than a hundred thousand palm leaf and paper manuscripts. Kadatas are from 15th century to 19th century, and unique in how they are made. Kadata is a long sheet of cloth, seasoned with charcoal paste mixed with tamarind seed powder, dried and folded in the form a book. It opens out like a roll. Soapstone pencils were used to write. The history of Kadata goes back to 4th century BC. Nearchus, an officer in Alexander The Great's army, mentions about Indians writing on a well-beaten cloth. A large number of Kadatas are preserved at the Sringeri Math in Sringeri, Karnataka. Dr Shastry's research focuses on social, political, economic and religious aspects of Sringeri Dharmasamsthana in particualar and Karnataka in general, during this time period.
Dr Shastry's major work involves reading, translating/transliterating from "modi kannada" Modi alphabet - an old Kannada script, and generating source material from these manuscripts. He has written several large volumes of source material books that capture these documents verbatim with commentary and analysis. Due to his work on Kadatas, he is fondly known as "Kadata Shastry" in Karnataka's history circles.
He has presided over several state and national level history seminars . He was a professor of history at MES's M. M. College of Arts and Science, Sirsi, affiliated to Karnatak University, Dharwad, from 1964 to 1998.
Life and Education
Dr Shastry was born on 17 March 1940 in Sirsi. He completed his education in Sirsi and Dharwad
Primary Education in K. E. Board High School in DharwadB.A (Hons) from Karnatak College, Dharwad, 1961M.A (History) from Karnatak University. Dharwad, 1963Ph.D. from Karnatak University, Dharwad, 1976Books and Research
Academic
A History of Shringeri: Karnatak University, Dharwad. 1st edition 1982, 2nd edition 1999.Sringeri Dharmasamsthana (Kannada) : Sringeri Matha, 1983Sringeriya Itihasa (Kannada) : Karnatak University, Dharwad. Three editionsFrance Deshada Mahakranti (Kannada): Karnatak University, DharwadThe records of the Sringeri Matha relating to Keladi: Keladi Museum, 2001Selections from the Kadatas of the Sringeri Matha: Unpublished, Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi, 1982A Catalogue of the Sringeri Records : Karnataka State Archives , Bangalore, 1995/1996Kannadadalli Kadatagalu: Kannada Sahatya Parishat, Bangalore, 1997Sirsi Talukina Itihasa (Kannada) : M.E Society, Sirsi, 1988Sri Sonda Swarnavalli Mahasamsthanada Aitihasika Dakhalegalu (Kannada): Karnataka State Archives , Bangalore, 1997Sri Swarnavalli Mahasamsthana (Kannada): Sri Sarwajnendra Sarasvati Pratishthana, Swarnavalli, 1997A History of the Swarnavalli Mahasamsthana: Sri Bhagavatpada Prakashana, Swarnavalli, 2004Sri Manjuguni Kshetrada Charitrika Dakhalegalu (Kannada): Karnataka State Archives , Bangalore, 1997The Historical Records Relating to the Kanara Districts: Unpublished, U.G.C, New Delhi, 2002Idagunjiya Sri Mahaganapati Mattu Sabhahitaru (English & Kannada): Lilaganapati Charitable Trust, Haldipur, 2004Sringeri Mathada Kadatagalalliya Aayda Charitrika Dakhalegalu (Kannada): Karnataka State Archives , Bangalore, 2003Ramrao Divgi - A Karmayogi : Divgi Family, Sirsi, 2005Kadambotsava Smarana Sanchike : Editor, 1996Sirsi Taluka Darpana : Editor, M.E Society, Sirsi, 1988The Karnataka Historical Review : Editor, Dharwad, Vol XXVIThe Records of the Sringeri Dharmasamsthana : Sringeri Matha, 2009 (U.G.C New Delhi)The Records of Sri Chitrapur Matha : 2008Banavasi (English): Department of Archeology, Museums and Heritage, Bangalore, 2011Banavasi (Kannada): Department of Archeology, Museums and Heritage, Bangalore, 2010Poems
Upakhyana (Kannada), Sirsi, 1982Anisikegalu (Kannada), Pampa Prakashana, Sirsi, 1993Ananta Chutukugalu (Kannada), Sirsi, 2010Chuti Chutukugalu (Kannada), Sirsi, Bhavani Prakashana, 2012Work, Seminars and Awards
Professor of History for 35 yearsFellow: Kuvempu UniversityResource Person for Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Kannada University Hampe and various National SeminarsDirector, Research Project, I.C.H.R New Delhi, 1980-82 Principal Investigator, Major Research Projects, U.G.C New Delhi, 2000-2002 and 2005-2007District Coordinator for survey of manuscripts in the Uttara Kannada district, National Mission for Manuscripts, New Delhi, 2005Presented research papers and presided over sessions at the state and national level seminars. Honored as a national level historian and research scholar at the national conference held at Shivaji University, Kolhapur in 2000Presented the research paper "The Sringeri Matha and the Marathas" at the international seminar at Shivaji University, Kolhapur in 2005General President of the Karnataka Itihasa Academy's 16th conference in 2002General President of the Karnataka History Congress, 2006"Kadamba Seva Ratna", Rajyotsava award, 2010Honored at All India Kannada Sahitya Conference, Bangalore, 2011Kannada Sahitya Parishat's Centenary award, 2015Sports
First in running broad jump, hop-step and jump, and polevault (set a new university record) in Karnataka University's athletic eventsCaptain of the Karnataka University athletic team to All India Inter-University Athletic Meet, 1961First to the state as coach in athletics, 1965Other
Prize winner for outstanding social workSub Lieutenant, N.C.C Navy, 1966-1970In 1998, a felicitation volume called 'Itihasa Samshodhaka', edited by Dr. G. M Hegde, was publishedIn 2015, on the occasion of Dr. Shastry's 75th birthday, a felicitation volume called 'Ananta Krishna Charita' , edited by Ganapati Bhat, Vargasar, was published
