Kota Shivaram Karanth was a Kannada writer, social activist, environmentalist, Yakshagana artist, film maker and thinker. He was described as the "Rabindranath Tagore of Modern India who has been one of the finest novelists-activists since independence" by Ramachandra Guha. He was the third person among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada the highest literary honour conferred by the Govt. of India. Shivaram Karanth was born on 10 October 1902, in Kota near Udupi in the Udupi district of Karnataka to a Kannada family. He completed his primary education in Kundapura and Mangalore. He did not complete his education and went to participate in the Non-cooperation movement. By this time, he has already started writing. Mai Managala Suliyalli, Ade OOru Ade Mara, Alida Mele, Mookajjiya Kanasugalu, Svapnada Hole, Sarsammana Samadhi, Shaneeshwarana Neralinalli, Kudiyara Koosu, Marali Mannige, Bettada Jeeva and Chomana Dudi are the most noted works of Karanth, still read by millions. He wrote at the rate of one novel an year and has published 47 novels in his life time. Apart from novels, he also wrote 31 plays, 4 short stories, 6 books of essays and sketches and 13 books on art. Apart from writings, he is also known for other activities. He was the first person built the first children's toy-train in Asia which was later copied in Cubbon Park of Bangalore.