"Forget Indian cinema, especially Bollywood cinema, which sells titillating products. It is no different with those who write Lavanis. But why do those who write serious literature indulge in titillation of a different kind? Why aren’t they faithful to historical truths? Why don’t they escape from the clutches of historians committed to their ideology and use their independent critical faculties to study and understand historical evidence? S. Shettar (past Chairman of the ICHR) who justifies Girish Karnad says, “In his play about Tipu, Girish Karnad has kept only the play in view and has tried to explore the good qualities of Tipu. Historians, playwrights, and creative artists each have their own ideals.” What are the differences between ideology and ideal here? The litterateur can somehow escape using the parachute of convenience called ideal. However, if a historian too tries to use this convenience, what will be the fate of historical truths? Marxist historians just don’t seem to understand the importance and subtlety of this question. The less said about the litterateurs who are in their clutches the better."
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Novelists from IndiaScreenwriters from IndiaHindus from IndiaPhilosophers from IndiaPoets from India
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Dr. Bhyrappa echoed this in his 8 October 2008 closing essay on the Tipu debate, “If a historian, like a novelist, seeks comfort, what is the fate of the truth?” quoted in Sandeep Balakrishna. 2013. Tipu Sultan : The Tyrant of Mysore. Chennai: Rare Publications.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/S._L._Bhyrappa
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S. L. Bhyrappa
Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhyrappa (20 August 1931 – 24 September 2025) was an Indian novelist, philosopher and screenwriter who wrote in Kannada. His work is popular in the state of Karnataka and he is widely regarded as one of modern India's popular novelists. His novels are unique in terms of theme, structure, and characterization. He has been among the top-selling authors in the Kannada language and his books have been translated into Hindi and Marathi which have also been sellers.
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