Sumathendra Raghavendra Nadig (born 1935) is an Indian professor and writer.
Nadig came upon the literary scene as a prominent modern poet in the 1960s. He was a close associate of Gopalakrishna Adiga, the leader of the modernist movement.
Nadig's "Dampatya Gita" has been translated into English, Hindi, Bengali and other Indian languages. His other major poem, "Panchabhut", is considered to be an important and original contribution to modern Indian literature. His poetic achievement has been acknowledged by great poets including Gopalakrishna Adiga, Pu. Ti. Narasimhachar, Ayyappa Panikar, Sitanshu Yashaschandra, Manohar Rai Sardesai, and G. S. Shivrudrappa; writers including S. L. Bhyrappa and U. R. Anantha Murthy; and scholars including Kapila Vatsyayan and Sibnarayan Ray.
Nadig has two master's degrees in English, one from Mysore University and the other from Temple University (US). He also received a PhD in Kannada from Bangalore University and an honorary doctorate, "Shabda Marthand", from Gurukul Kangri University, Hardwar.
He has received many awards, including the Karnataka Rajyothsava Prashsti, Dinakara Pratisthana Prashasti, V. M. Inamdar Prashsti, and M.V.Si. Puraskara.
He was the Chairman of National Book Trust from 1996 to 1999.
He is well known for his critical studies of Bendre, K.S. Narasimha Swamy and Adiga, and short stories and nursery rhymes, and translations from Bengali to Kannada, and from Kannada to English. He knows Kannada, English, Hindi, Marathi, Konkani, and Bengali.
"Poetry makes strange things happen. I reach the society in me, and the society meets me in my poetry."
— Sumatheendra Nadig
Sumatheendra Nadig is married to Malathi and has three children, Swapna, Rashmi and Apoorva. He currently resides in Bangalore.
Kempe Gowda Award, Bruhat Bengaluru MahanagaraPalike, July 2007Sri Krishna Prashasti, conferred by Sri Sri PejawaraViswesha Tirtha Swamiji, June 2007Vijayeendra Puraskara, conferred by Sri SriSushameendra Teertha Swamiji, July 2007Niranjana Prashasti, 2006Aryabhata Award, 2005Visweswariah Sahitya Prashasti, 2005M.Vi.See, Sahitya Puraskar, 2004Sahitya Siri Award, Chickmagalur Jilla Sahitya Parishat, 2002UGC Emeritus Fellow, March 2000 – 2002Chairman, National Book Trust, India, October 1996 – October 1999Award for Translation–Karnataka Sahitya Akademi, 1999Awarded 'Vidya Marthanda' honorary degree: GurukulKangri University, 1997, Haridwar, delivered the convocation addressV.M. Inamdar Vimarsha Prashasti, 1995Rajyotsava Award – Govt. of Karnataka, 1995Award for translation – Karnataka Sahitya Akademi, 1994Sahitya Akademi Travel Grant, 1991Dinakar Pratishthana Award, 1990U.G.C. Short Term Research Grant, 1998Award for Translation–Karnataka Sahitya Akademi, 1997Best Fiction Award – ‘Sudha’ Novel Competition, 1997Academic and professional experience
Visiting Professor, Viswa-Bharati, Shantiniketan, October–December 1997Visiting Fellow, Jadhavpur University, Calcuta, November 1991 – March 1992Reader in English, Bangalore University, 1989–95Senior Executive, Bappco Publication, Bangalore 1975–80Part-time faculty of the Department of English, Temple University, Philadelphia, 1972–74Instructor in English, Haverford College, Haverford, 1973Professor and Head of the Department of English, St. Xavier's College, Mapusa, Goa, 1965–197Visiting Professor, Bombay University Post-Graduate Centre, Panjim, Goa, 1965–1971.Lecturer in English at Margo, Bombay and Belgaum, 1957–65.Jada Mattu Chetana, 2005Pancha Bhootagalu, 2000Samagra Kavya, 1998Nataraja Kanda Kamanabillu, 1994Kuhoo Gita, 1992.Tamashe Padyagalu, 1992, 1998Dampatya Gita, 1987 (translated into Sanskrit, English, Bengali, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Marathi)Bhava Loka, 1983Udghatane, 1978Kappu Devate, 1970Nimma Premakumariya Jataka, 1964Mounadaacheya Maatu, 2007Nalkaneya Sahitya Charitre, 2005Mattondu Sahitya Charitre, 2002, 2004Bendreyavara Kavyada Vibhinna Nelegalu, 1989, 1998Adigaru Mattu Navyakavya, 1968, 75, 98, 2006 (reserved)Innondu Sahitya Charitre, 1999Heegondu Sahitya Charitre, 1995Vimarsheya Dariyalli, 1994Kavya Endarenu, 1994Dakkanakka Dakkana, 2005Dhruva Mattu Prahlada, 2003Didilak Didilak, 2002Goobeya Kathe, 2000, 2003Ili Maduve, 1999Galipata, 1999, 2004Sahasa (a novel), serialised in 1978, in book form 1979, 1998Hannondu Hamsagalu (a play), 1987Sthithaprajna, 1996Aayda Kathegalu, 1992 (textbook for B.A., BSc and B.Com. students of Bangalore University 1992–1993)Gili Mattu Dumbi, 1985Karkotaka, 1975, 1998Some of his stories have been translated into Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, Oriya and English.
From English to Kannada:
Radhanath Ray, 1991 – Sahitya AkademiSindhi Sahitya Charitre, 1981 – Sahitya AkademiDickens 'Hard Times', 1981 (with Venugopala Soraba)Aristophane's 'Birds', 1990Ruskin's 'Unto The Last', 1979Strindberg's 'Miss Julie', 1979Ionesco's 'Bokka Taleya Nartaki', 1974From Bengali to Kannada:
Tagore's 'Tin Sangi', 1998Nirendranath Chakravarthi's 'Ulang Raja', 1996Poems from Bengal, 2002Selected poems of Gopalaksirhna Adiga; Sahitya Akademi, 2005Veerappa Moily's novel 'On to the Great Beyond', 2003The Buddha Smile with P. Sreenivas RaoA House of Thousand DoorsPoems of G. S. Shivarudrappa20th Century Kannada Poetry with an introduction by Nissim EzekielSelected Kannada Short Stories and Jnanapeeth Laureatres of Karnataka (with L. S. Seshagiri Rao)Roots and Wings (Poems of P. Sreenivasa Rao), 2007Complete works of P. Sreenivasa Rao, 2002Critical Studies of S. L. Bhyrappa's Works, 2002
