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Venkatesh Kulkarni | |
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| Born | 1945 |
| Died | May 3, 1998(1998-05-03) (aged 52–53) |
| 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 |
Venkatesh Srinivas Kulkarni (1945 – May 3, 1998) was an Indian-Americannovelist and academic.
Kulkarni 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 fromOsmania University at the age of 19.[3] He undertook further studies atCambridge University, theUniversity of Moscow, theUniversity of Heidelberg, theSorbonne, andTulane University.[3]
Kulkarni became aRotary International fellow and came to the United States. A member of theU.S. Cabinet asked Kulkarni to apply for U.S. citizenship.[2]
His first novel,Naked in Deccan (1983), won the 1984American Book Award of theBefore Columbus Foundation and was listed among the top ten novels of the decade by theChicago Tribune.[3] In the book, Kulkarni describesDeccan, 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 feudalcaste 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 atRice University inHouston. Kulkarni's students includedKathi Appelt[4] andJohn Odam.[5]
In 1997, he had a late diagnosis ofleukemia and despite prolonged treatment at theMD 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, andThe Modern American Apollo.
A Teaching Prize has been named for him by Rice University.[3]
His son, Sri Preston Kulkarni, was theDemocratic candidate forTexas's 22nd congressional district in theUnited States House of Representatives in 2018 and 2020.[6][7]
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