About Santosh Kumar Gulvady

Santosh Kumar Gulvady (2 October 1938 – 7 December 2010) was a towering figure in Kannada journalism whose contributions reshaped modern Indian media. Born in Udupi on the auspicious day of Durgashtami to Shashikala and Ratnakar Bhat Gulvady, he was destined for greatness despite being born with a congenital heart ailment—proving throughout his life that the sky is the limit when pursuing one’s passion.
Although a commerce graduate from Government College Mangaluru, his first love of writing prompted him to pursue a post-graduate diploma in journalism and advertising from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Mumbai. He began his career in the corporate sector with companies like Singer, Blue Star, and Silk Board, but eventually gave it up to engage in journalism, which was his true passion. Starting as a freelance journalist, he contributed to Kannada media as their Mumbai correspondent.
Father managed to spend quality time with his beloved wife Sudeshna, daughter Samskrati, and son Samarth, leading a saarthak (meaningful) life based on sanaatana (eternal) values. His obsession for travelling and meeting people led him to explore the length and breadth of India and over 20 countries overseas.

Record-Breaking Achievements

The TARANGA Revolution

Santosh Kumar Gulvady’s monumental achievement was founding and serving as Editor-in-Chief of TARANGA magazine from 1982 to 1999. During these 18 years, he set a national record in the 160-year history of Kannada journalism, creating the fastest-growing family magazine. TARANGA became the first weekly to cross two lakh circulation in just 23 months—a record that remains unmatched today.
This illustrated family Kannada weekly revolutionised how Kannada culture reached families across India. His editorial vision transformed TARANGA into a cultural movement connecting Kannada speakers worldwide whilst introducing Karnataka’s heritage to new audiences. He also founded NOOTANA Kannada Weekly and BHAAVANA Kannada Monthly.

Literary Legacy

Father authored over 40 books spanning diverse genres, becoming a household name across Karnataka. His masterwork, the “Antaranga-Bahiranga” series (nine volumes, 2,500 pages), compiled his editorial insights from 1983-2000 and earned him the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award in 1994.
Among his many literary contributions, “Taa Taa Tingana,” a compilation of Konkani lullabies, held a special place in his heart and won the Karnataka Government Konkani Sahitya Academy Award in 1998. His works included “Modala Moggu” (short stories), “Shilabaalike” (novelette), “Chitrapur Rathotsava” (cultural research), and “Kundya Kurkula” (Konkani folk tales).
Perhaps most inspiringly, he wrote “Naanu Hridaya Shastra Chikitse Maadikonde” (How I Underwent Heart Surgery), sharing his successful personal experience of open-heart surgery from the 1960s to boost the spirits of others facing similar challenges. This work exemplified his belief in turning personal struggles into sources of strength for others.

Recognition & Global Impact

Awards & Honours

Father received over 30 prestigious awards including the Karnataka State Government Award for Excellence in Journalism (1990), Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award (1994), Sir Visveswaraya Award (1994), and Veer Savarkar Award (1995). He was elected President of the Kannada Literary Conference (1995) and earned the revered titles “Patrika Bheeshma” and “Samartha Sampadaka.”

International Recognition

His influence extended globally through travels to over 20 countries and extensive domestic exploration across India. Notable achievements included travelling with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to Mauritius (1987) and receiving special invitations to deliver lectures in the UK, USA, and Canada on Indian classical music, Raagamala miniature paintings, Ganjifa art, Karnataka’s Hoysala sculpture, journalism, and advertising.
He was also an invited speaker at several Indian universities including Mysore, Dharwad, Hampi, Mangalore, and the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. His lectures demonstrated his deep knowledge of Indian culture and his ability to present complex subjects to diverse audiences. Even whilst engrossing himself in writing, Indian classical music, literature, fine arts, theatre, folklore, sculpture, films, advertising, travelling, and environmental concerns, he maintained his commitment to sharing knowledge across cultures.

Legacy & Influence on My Journey

Foundation of My Philosophy

Father’s visit to Salalah, Oman marked the beginning of our family’s deep connection to the Sultanate. His global perspective, gained through international travels and interactions, prepared me for my 18-year journey in Oman’s higher education system. His principle of reaching diverse audiences without compromising authenticity—demonstrated by TARANGA’s success—became fundamental to my multicultural teaching approach.
His record-breaking achievement taught me that excellence speaks a universal language. This lesson guides my work with students from diverse backgrounds in Oman, showing how to honour heritage whilst building international bridges. His 40 published books demonstrated the importance of documenting and sharing knowledge across generations, directly influencing my research on intercultural communication and cultural heritage preservation.

Continuing His Values

Today, as I work in Oman’s multicultural educational environment, I carry forward his lessons about respecting every culture, valuing authentic communication, and believing in education’s transformative power. His integration of traditional knowledge with contemporary insights provides the template for my teaching philosophy of bridging traditional wisdom with modern knowledge.
His belief that journalism should serve as a bridge between communities resonates in my work helping students find their authentic voice in our interconnected world. The values he instilled—cultural pride with global perspective, communication excellence, and community service—remain the cornerstone of my educational philosophy and continue to guide my contribution to Oman’s Vision 2040.

A Lasting Tribute

Santosh Kumar Gulvady’s legacy transcends impressive statistics—his true impact lies in proving that cultural preservation and global reach are complementary strengths. TARANGA’s unprecedented success wasn’t achieved by compromising Kannada heritage but by presenting it with such quality that it appealed across linguistic and geographical boundaries.
His extraordinary achievements remind us that true success lies not in abandoning our roots for global recognition, but in presenting our authentic selves with such excellence that the world takes notice. His record-breaking accomplishments whilst maintaining the highest cultural standards provide the template for building bridges between cultures without compromising integrity.
“Santosh Kumar Gulvady’s belief in excellence, cultural pride, and global perspective continues to guide my work in creating bridges between diverse communities whilst preserving the authentic essence of each culture.”

Professional Timeline:

1962: Graduated journalism career • 1982-1999: TARANGA Editor-in-Chief (18 years) • 1987-1996: International lecture tours • 1990-1999: Major awards period • 2005: Visit to Oman • 2010: Passed away 7 December

Legacy in Numbers:

40+ Books Published • 30+ International Awards • 20+ Countries Visited • 2,00,000+ Magazine Circulation • 160-Year National Record Holder • Born with Congenital Heart Ailment Yet Achieved Unprecedented Success