Mysore/Mysuru, Jan. 5 -- Coming from a humble background, Chandrashekhara - whose father Sannappa is a shepherd and mother Shanthamma a manual labourer - has set his sights high in Kannada literature after securing 13 gold medals and four cash prizes in Kannada. He hails from Kannerumadu village at Kanakagiri, Koppal.

Recalling his difficult childhood, Chandrashekhara said he experienced extreme poverty from a young age and could not attend school from Classes 1 to 4 as he had to accompany his father to graze sheep. "My father continues in the same profession even today, and our family depends on that income to eke out a living," he said.

"I have studied Kannada literature in depth, especially the works of Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa, and had the...