Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 22: Eminent historian, researcher, journalist, columnist and writer, Dr Suryanath Upendra Kamath (78) breathed his last in the city on Wednesday October 21 evening. He was in coma since about a year.

Kamath, born on April 26, 1937 in Beltangady, had also worked as the chief editor of Karnataka state gazettier from 1981 to 1995. He is survived by two daughters and a son.

After coming in contact with well-known historian, Dr B A Salethore when studying in Karnataka University, Kamath got interested in history and in course of time, turned into an avid historian. He worked as journalist for Free Press Journal published from Mumbai for sometime, and also worked for Kannada daily, 'Prajavani'. During the emergency, he was jailed. He had accommodated family members of a number of families, breadwinners of which had been jailed during this period.

Kamath became editor of monthly magazine, 'Uthana', before working as lecturer and reader in Acharya Pathashala here and history department of Bangalore University. He also was a respected columnist for several publications.

Kamath functioned as president of Mythic Society from 1994 to 2006. He worked for 35 years as the editor for the research paper published by the society for 35 years. He founded 'Karnataka Itihasa Academy' in 1987 and was the leading force behind the academy for four years. As the president of 'Rajaram Mohan Roy Trust' of the central government in 1998, he visited several countries.

Kamath's highly reverred works include Karnataka's freedom struggle (three volumes), brief history of Karnataka, Okkaligara Itihasa, A Concise History of Karnataka, Mythology and Culture, Confluence of Thoughts, Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara, Historiography of Karnataka, Indian Tradition of Textile Industry,Studies in Indian Culture, Handbook of Karnataka, and The Origin and Spread of Gouda Saraswatas. His writings, both Kannada and English, were always backed by devoted research and accurate details and proved to be mines of information for the readers.