Background
Maasti was born in 1891, at Hosahalli in Kolar district of Karnataka in a Tamil speaking Sri Vaishnavaite family.
Maasti was born in 1891, at Hosahalli in Kolar district of Karnataka in a Tamil speaking Sri Vaishnavaite family.
He was popularly referred to as Maasti Kannadada Aasti which means Maasti is Kannada"s Treasure. He is most renowned for his short stories. He wrote under the pen name Srinivasa.
He was honoured with the title Rajasevasakta by then Maharaja of Mysore Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadeyar.
He spent his early childhood in Maasti village. He obtained a master"s degree in English literature (Arts) in 1914 from Madras University.
After joining the Indian Civil Service (Known as the Mysore Civil Service in the days of the Maharaja of Mysore), he held various positions of responsibility in different parts of Karnataka, rising to the rank of District Commissioner. After 26 years of service, he resigned in 1943, as a protest when he did not get the post equivalent to a Minister, which he deserved and a junior was promoted ahead of him.
He wrote some pieces in English and then switched over to write in Kannada language.
He used pen name Srinivasa to write short stories and novels in Kannada.