Shantadevi Kanavi, the Kannada short story writer, has passed away in Belgaum due to age-related issues. She was 87.

In a six-decade life in words, Ms Kanavi had eight collections: Sanje Mallige, Bayalu Alaya, Maru Vichara, Jaatre Mugidittu, Kalachi bidda Paijana, Neelima Teera, Gandhi Magalu and Achcha Parimala—and a volume of collected short stories, Katha Manjari.

Born in Bijapur (now Vijayapura) to Siddabasappa Gidnavar and Bhagirathidevi Gidnavar in January 1933, she became part of the vibrant literary world of Dharwad after she married Chennaveera Kanavi a leading light in Kannada poetry in 1952.

Thousands of students in Universities of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi and Dharwad studied her short stories in their text books. Her stories have been translated into English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

Honoured for a lifetime of literary contributions with the Karnataka Rajya Sahitya Akademi Gaurava Prashasti, and a doctorate from the Karnataka State Akka Mahadevi Women’s University, Ms Kanavi was the topic of Onagabaradu odala chilume, a collection of 56 critical essays and analyses of her works by noted literary critics.

The crossword puzzle-solving, Jane Eyre reading Ms Kanavi is survived by her husband, 5 children and 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.