crown

Subscribe Now

FOLLOW US

Sign in

Photos: Remembering Girish Karnad’s work and activism

Notable actor, playwright and activist Girish Karnad passed away aged 81 in Bengaluru on June 10, 2019. Karnad has been honoured with the highest accolades during an expansive career in art and activism and commended by his contemporaries and the artistic fraternity for his courage to stand up for the freedom of creative expression in the country. A look at Karnad's multifaceted personality and his vision of a liberal India through pictures.

Updated on: Jun 11, 2019 5:34 PM IST

Share via

Copy link

1/9

Playwright, actor and movie director Girish Karnad at his residence in Bengaluru, Karnataka. In 1961, at the age of 23, Karnad’s first play ‘Yayati’ was published, based on the life of king Yayati, one of the ancestors of the Pandavas from the Mahabharata. In 1964, his next play ‘Tughlaq’ was published and Karnad had found a new approach drawing from historical and mythological sources to address contemporary themes. (Hemant Mishra / Mint Archive)

Updated on Jun 11, 2019 5:34 PM

Playwright, actor and movie director Girish Karnad at his residence in Bengaluru, Karnataka. In 1961, at the age of 23, Karnad’s first play ‘Yayati’ was published, based on the life of king Yayati, one of the ancestors of the Pandavas from the Mahabharata. In 1964, his next play ‘Tughlaq’ was published and Karnad had found a new approach drawing from historical and mythological sources to address contemporary themes. (Hemant Mishra / Mint Archive)

2/9

A BBC Hindi service recording session with Kailash Budhwar (L) where three Indian stage and film personalities -- Shashi Kapoor (2L), Nilin Sethi and Girish Karnad (R) were invited for a discussion on the effect of Indian theatre on India’s film industry, in London. (BBC)

Updated on Jun 11, 2019 5:34 PM

A BBC Hindi service recording session with Kailash Budhwar (L) where three Indian stage and film personalities -- Shashi Kapoor (2L), Nilin Sethi and Girish Karnad (R) were invited for a discussion on the effect of Indian theatre on India’s film industry, in London. (BBC)

3/9

Smita Patil, Jabbar Patel and Girish Karnad (R) during the filming of Jabbar’s “Subah”. Karnad made his acting as well as screenwriting debut in the Kannada movie Samskara (1970) based on a novel by U.R. Ananthamurthy and it won the first President’s Golden Lotus Award for Kannada cinema. (HT Archive)

Updated on Jun 11, 2019 5:34 PM

Smita Patil, Jabbar Patel and Girish Karnad (R) during the filming of Jabbar’s “Subah”. Karnad made his acting as well as screenwriting debut in the Kannada movie Samskara (1970) based on a novel by U.R. Ananthamurthy and it won the first President’s Golden Lotus Award for Kannada cinema. (HT Archive)

4/9

Girish Karnad addresses a gathering during the Sahitya Akademi Award ceremony in New Delhi, on February 21, 1995. He served as director of the Film and Television Institute of India (1974–1975) and chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi (1988–93). He also served as director of the Nehru Centre and as Minister of Culture at the Indian High Commission, London (2000–2003). (Sanjay Sharma / HT Archive)

Updated on Jun 11, 2019 5:34 PM

Girish Karnad addresses a gathering during the Sahitya Akademi Award ceremony in New Delhi, on February 21, 1995. He served as director of the Film and Television Institute of India (1974–1975) and chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi (1988–93). He also served as director of the Nehru Centre and as Minister of Culture at the Indian High Commission, London (2000–2003). (Sanjay Sharma / HT Archive)

5/9

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee presents the Jnanpith Award to Girish Karnad on March 27, 1999, in New Delhi. During his lifetime Karnad was recognized many times for his work in art and culture with honours such as the Padma Shri (1974), the Padma Bhushan (1992) and several National Film Awards. (HC Tiwari / HT Archive)

Updated on Jun 11, 2019 5:34 PM

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee presents the Jnanpith Award to Girish Karnad on March 27, 1999, in New Delhi. During his lifetime Karnad was recognized many times for his work in art and culture with honours such as the Padma Shri (1974), the Padma Bhushan (1992) and several National Film Awards. (HC Tiwari / HT Archive)

6/9

Girish Karnad at the release of the book “Underground at Present” written by Sachin Mali, a cultural activist of Kabir Kala Manch, then jailed in connection with Naxal activity, at St.Xaviers College in Mumbai, on May 12, 2014. Karnad was known for standing up against the establishment and was often called a man who fought for the freedom of creative expression. (Shakti Yadav / HT Archive)

Updated on Jun 11, 2019 5:34 PM

Girish Karnad at the release of the book “Underground at Present” written by Sachin Mali, a cultural activist of Kabir Kala Manch, then jailed in connection with Naxal activity, at St.Xaviers College in Mumbai, on May 12, 2014. Karnad was known for standing up against the establishment and was often called a man who fought for the freedom of creative expression. (Shakti Yadav / HT Archive)

7/9

Girish Karnad at the ‘Not in My Name’ campaign in protest against the lynching of a Muslim man, at Town Hall, in Bengaluru, on June 28, 2017. His first move with activism came in the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition when journalist Gauri Lankesh and Karnad entered public activism together on the same issue. He was also supposed to lead a communal harmony march to the shrine on December 2003, but both were arrested before that. (Arijit Sen / HT Archive)

Updated on Jun 11, 2019 5:34 PM

Girish Karnad at the ‘Not in My Name’ campaign in protest against the lynching of a Muslim man, at Town Hall, in Bengaluru, on June 28, 2017. His first move with activism came in the wake of the Babri Masjid demolition when journalist Gauri Lankesh and Karnad entered public activism together on the same issue. He was also supposed to lead a communal harmony march to the shrine on December 2003, but both were arrested before that. (Arijit Sen / HT Archive)

8/9

Karnad speaks as historian Ramachandra Guha looks on, during the inauguration of a literary meet for tolerance at Senate Hall in Bengaluru, on September 02, 2018. He also took the lead in several protests against the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation (Amendment) Bill 2012, brought by the then BJP government. At an event, Karnad said while not a beef eater himself, he supported consumption as it was part of several cultures. (Arijit Sen / HT Archive)

Updated on Jun 11, 2019 5:34 PM

Karnad speaks as historian Ramachandra Guha looks on, during the inauguration of a literary meet for tolerance at Senate Hall in Bengaluru, on September 02, 2018. He also took the lead in several protests against the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation (Amendment) Bill 2012, brought by the then BJP government. At an event, Karnad said while not a beef eater himself, he supported consumption as it was part of several cultures. (Arijit Sen / HT Archive)

9/9

Girish Karnad passed away on June 10, 2019 after a prolonged illness in Bengaluru. His wife Saraswathy Ganapathy (R), daughter Shalmali Radha Karnad (L) and son Raghu Karnad (C) seen leaving after the last rites at a crematorium. Karnad’s last wishes were to be cremated peacefully without fanfare or procession. The Karnataka government announced a day’s holiday and three days of mourning as the whole nation grieves this loss. (Shailendra Bhojak / PTI)

Updated on Jun 11, 2019 5:34 PM

Girish Karnad passed away on June 10, 2019 after a prolonged illness in Bengaluru. His wife Saraswathy Ganapathy (R), daughter Shalmali Radha Karnad (L) and son Raghu Karnad (C) seen leaving after the last rites at a crematorium. Karnad’s last wishes were to be cremated peacefully without fanfare or procession. The Karnataka government announced a day’s holiday and three days of mourning as the whole nation grieves this loss. (Shailendra Bhojak / PTI)

Related Photos

Home/Photos/Lifestyle/Photos: Remembering Girish Karnad’s Work And Activism

© 2026 HindustanTimes