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Venkatesh Srinivas Kulkarni (1945 – May 3, 1998) was an Indian-American novelist and academic.
Venkatesh Kulkarni | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1945 Hyderabad, India |
| Died | May 3, 1998 (aged 52–53) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist and academic |
| Alma mater | Osmania University (MA) |
| Notable works | Naked in Deccan |
| Notable awards | American Book Award (1984)[1] |
| Spouse | Margaret Preston |
| Children | 4, including Sri Preston Kulkarni |
Early life and education
editKulkarni was born in India and graduated from university at age 17. He was originally scheduled to go to medical school, but the admissions counselors at the institution asked him to come back when he was older.[2] Kulkarni graduated with a master's degree from Osmania University at the age of 19.[3] He undertook further studies at Cambridge University, the University of Moscow, the University of Heidelberg, the Sorbonne, and Tulane University.[3]
Career
editKulkarni became a Rotary International fellow and came to the United States. A member of the U.S. Cabinet asked Kulkarni to apply for U.S. citizenship.[2]
His first novel, Naked in Deccan (1983), won the 1984 American Book Award of the Before Columbus Foundation and was listed among the top ten novels of the decade by the Chicago Tribune.[3] In the book, Kulkarni describes Deccan, a region of India, as a “landscape lined with stretchmarks of fate masquerading as cart-driven paths deeply embedded in the dark earth”. The story is set in the feudal caste system and has no heroes or villains. Human beings demonstrate weaknesses and passions; some demonstrate moral strength and some do not.
For twelve years until his death, Kulkarni taught creative writing at Rice University in Houston. Kulkarni's students included Kathi Appelt[4] and John Odam.[5]
Death and legacy
editIn 1997, he had a late diagnosis of leukemia and despite prolonged treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, died on May 3, 1998. He was survived by his wife, Margaret, and four children:[3] eldest son Sri, next-eldest son Silas, daughter Margo, and youngest son Kris.[2]
He left two unfinished books, Allah Baksh - The Man Eaten By God, and The Modern American Apollo.
A Teaching Prize has been named for him by Rice University.[3]
Awards
edit- 1984 American Book Award for Naked in Deccan
Family
editHis son, Sri Preston Kulkarni, was the Democratic candidate for Texas's 22nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 2018 and 2020.[6][7]
Works
edit- Naked in Deccan: a novel. Stemmer House. December 1983. ISBN 978-0-88045-030-0.
References
edit- ^ "Previous Winners of the American Book Award" (PDF). Before Columbus Foundation. 2002. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c Feldman, Margaret. "Life and death - Graduation was important to Silas Kulkarni but not as important as his dad." Houston Chronicle. June 7, 1998. Lifestyle p. 1. Newsbank Record Number: 3060644. Available from the Houston Public Library.
- ^ a b c d e Kaplan, David (May 28, 1998). "Rice Mourns Loss of Teacher". Rice University. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
- ^ Kathi Appelt (2004). Kissing Tennessee: And Other Stories from the Stardust Dance. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-15-205127-3.
- ^ Odam, John (October 7, 2008). The Candidate Conspiracy. Bertrams Print On Demand. p. vii. ISBN 978-0-595-91163-9. OCLC 1124549357. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Biden keeps out Democrats with RSS links". Tribuneindia News Service. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ Kumar, Rashmee; Hussain, Murtaza (29 October 2020). "How Sri Preston Kulkarni's Run for Congress Got Tangled Up in Indian Politics". The Intercept. Retrieved 29 January 2021.