Mangaluru: Renowned litterateur Manorama M. Bhat passes away at 92

Mangaluru: Renowned writer, storyteller, and Akashvani artiste, Manorama M. Bhat (92), passed away on September 15 due to age-related ailments at a private hospital. She was the wife of the late Yakshagana artist and senior lawyer, Muliya Mahabala Bhat.

Manorama is survived by two sons, along with several relatives and well-wishers. Her younger daughter-in-law, Bijoyini Satpathy, is a well-known Odissi dancer.

A fighter for women’s rights and a writer, Manorama Bhat entered the literary world as a short story writer. She authored numerous works, including Swayamvara (a collection of short stories), Ayke (a collection of radio plays), Nirdhara, Hosahadi, Neenu Mattu Naanu, Rnanubandha, Chandramatiya Kanasu, and Bali. She was a strong advocate against the belief that widows should remove their mangalsutra and fought for women’s rights.

She was one of the founding members of the Coastal Women Writers and Readers Association and later served as its president. Manorama Bhat also served as the secretary of the centenary committee for her father-in-law, Muliya Timmapayya, for over two decades, conducting the Muliya Awards ceremony.

She had been the president of the Mangaluru Taluk Literary Conference (Sahitya Sammelana) and lived alone in her house in Urvastores for several years before moving to an ashram on the city’s outskirts due to old age.

Manorama Bhat received several accolades, including the Attimabbe Foundation Literary Award, Dakshina Kannada District Rajyotsava Award, and Suvarna Karnataka Rajyotsava Award.