Doddabele Lakshmi Narasimhachar was born on 27 October 1906 in Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumkur district. His father Shamayya Iyengar was a clerk in the Sub-Registrar’s office. His mother Lakshmamma was daughter of Annaswamy Iyengar who was known for his rendition of Mahabharatha (Bharathavachana). D. L. Narasimhachar spent most of his childhood at Annaswamy’s Iyengar’s house and he had mastered “Jaimini Bharatha” by the age of 12 years! His family had migrated from Salem during the Vijayanagar Empire’s reign.

D. L. Narasimhachar had his schooling at Pavagada, then at Madhugiri and Sira. He learnt Sanskrit through private tuition. While in school, he was an avid contributor to the school magazine “School Folk” which was started by Principal Krishnaswamy Iyer. His earliest articles were an English article titled “The Story of a Cotton Seed” and a Kannada article titled “Dodda Manushyaru Yaaru?” In his school years, he had read works of Raghuvamsa and Champunarayana. During these school years, B. M. Srikantaiah once paid a visit to D. L. N.’s school and took a class on “Stories from Aeneid”. This class captured D. L. N.’s attention and fostered an ardent devotion to B. M. Srikantaiah under whose aegis he would later complete his Master’s qualification.

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D. L. Narasimhachar joined Central College, Bangalore in 1927 for his Bachelor’s Degree. His chosen subjects here were Chemistry and Physics. As he scored high marks in Kannada, he joined M. A. Course (in Kannada) at Maharaja College, Mysore. Here, his classmates included K. V. Puttappa, K. V. Raghavachar, Anantarangachar and K. Venkataramappa. While at Maharaja College, he came under the tutelage of B. M. Srikantaiah, Rallapalli Anatha Krishna Sharma, C. R. Narasimha Sastry, T. S. Venkanayya and A. R. Krishna Shastry. During his free time, he would frequent Oriental Research Library to peruse old Kannada manuscripts. D. L. Narasimhachar completed his M. A. in 1929 and was awarded the H. V. Nanjundaiah Gold Medal.
 
D. L. Narasimhachar was among the first to secure a research grant set aside for the Kannada Department. The Research topic was on the period during which Veerashaiva Literature developed in Karnataka. His first job was as a resident lecturer at Oriental Research Library. Concurrently, he was taken in as a part-time lecturer at Maharaja College in the Kannada Department.

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D. L. N. married Muthamma – last daughter of Tiruvallur Sreenivasa Raghavachar, who was himself a great Kannada Scholar. Raghavachar’s residence was a treasure house of rare Kannada books. Narasimhachar utilised this veritable library and penned “Pampa Ramayana Sangraha”. The couple’s first issue was a daughter by name Rajalakshmi. Their second child, a boy died early in his childhood and this was a great loss to the parents. They would have four more children – Prabha, Padmini, Jayashree and Madhavi. D. L. N. is famously believed to have dissuaded his first daughter from pursuing Kannada Studies for B. A. degree. He felt that if she happened to secure a first rank in B. A. degree, then the gossiping tongues would blame him for favouritism and nepotism! D. L. N. had a penchant for ‘snuff’, something he picked up from his close friend Kuvempu. Interestingly, Kuvempu is believed to have later given up the habit, whereas his friend continued it till his later years. D. L. Narasimhachar was appointed full time lecturer in Kannada in 1932 in Maharaja College, Mysore. He remained here for the next seven years. He was deputed to the Intermediate College in Mysore (present day Yuvaraja College) from 1939 to 1941. His promotion to the post of Assistant Professor saw him being transferred to Bangalore Central College in 1945. By 1948, he was promoted and consequently transferred back to Maharaja College, Mysore. In 1954, he was appointed Chief Editor of the ‘Kannada-Kannada’ Dictionary Project - a role which required him to again relocate back to Bangalore! Two years hence, by 1956 – he was promoted to the post of Professor and came back to Maharaja College where he would teach for the next six years before retiring in 1962. His teaching tenure spanning thirty years from 1932 – 1962 was divided almost equally between Mysore and Bangalore. Following his retirement in 1962, he was appointed U. G. C. Research Fellow for the next six years at the University of Mysore – Department of Kannada Studies.

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On the demise of T. N. Srikantayya, he took over the position of Chair of ‘Kannada-Kannada’ Dictionary Project. He eventually presided over the official release of the first edition of the Dictionary. During these years, he published his magnum opus on the art of ‘editorship’ titled “Kannada Grantha Sampadane”. This hectic schedule sadly resulted in him suffering his first heart attack in 1965. Between 1959 and 1963, he edited the prestigious academic journal “Prabuddha Karnataka” on behalf of Prasaranga of Mysore University.  
 
Narasimhachar delivered many lectures on Mysore Akashvani (later AIR). His radio address in 1943 on contemporary Kannada poetry dealt with many elements, which critics later considered to be an early foretelling of ‘Navodaya Literature’. He penned a memorable preface to K. S. Narasimha Swamy’s famous work “Shilalathe”. His love for ‘Halegannada’ saw him evince keen interest in Epigraphical studies – resulting in a close involvement in the publication of successive volumes of ‘Epigraphia Carnatica’.
 
His closest acquaintances included T. N. Srikantaiah, N. Shivarama Shastry, K. V. Raghavachar, T. P. Krishnachar, K. Venkataramappa. S. Srikanta Sastri and Kuvempu. Among his list of friends were the likes of V. Raghavan, N. Anantarangachar, Pu. Ti. Narasimhachar, Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar, D. K. Bhimasena Rao, Manjappa Bhatta, M. R. Sreenivasa Murthy and A. N. Murthy Rao.  Among his illustrious students were Parameshwara Bhatta, D. Javare Gowda, H. M. Shankar Narayan Rao, M. Chidanandamurthy and T. V. Venkatachala Sastry.
 
D. L. N. authored four major works in Kannada, edited about nine comprehensive volumes, penned about eleven prefaces, close to eighty odd articles across three decades, seven monographs in English and four masterly introductions to various books. His introduction to ‘Vaddaradhane’, ‘Pampa Ramayana Sangraha’ and ‘Sukumara Charitam’ are the best of their kind in Kannada.

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D. L. Narasimhachar’s scholarship was vast. In fact, it is believed that T. N. Srikantaiah once remarked that “D. L. N.’s name was synonymous with scholarship!” He was an ace linguist, grammatician, lexicographer, editor of numerous volumes, epigraphist and literary critic. He roughly churned out eighty research articles in forty years in both Kannada and English. Always seen in a close collared coat and dhoti, he was humility personified. He was honoured on multiple occasions by the Kannada Sahitya Akademi. He presided over the 41st Kannada Sahitya Sammelana at Bidar in 1960. He received two Felicitation Volumes: “Jnanopasaka” (1960) and “Upayana” (1967) with rare articles penned by subject experts and close friends. The Government of Mysore awarded the Kannada Rajyothsava Award. In recognition of his lifetime contribution to the world of Kannada studies, the University of Mysore bestowed on him an honorary D. Litt in 1969.

Following his retirement in 1962, he was appointed U. G. C. Research Fellow for the next six years at the University of Mysore – Department of Kannada Studies. The relentless pace of work sadly resulted in a second fatal heart attack on the night of 7th May 1971. He was 65 years old at the time of his death. He is cherished by generations of Kannada scholars (many of them his students) who remember his affable, affectionate bearing which often concealed a mountain of intellect. The Mysore City Corporation has named the fifth cross road in Saraswathipuram after this great soul.

Works of D. L. Narasimhachar
Books
1. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Hampeya Harihara” (1939)
2. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Shabda Vihara” (1956)
3. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kannada Grantha Sampadane” (1964)
4. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Peetekagalu-Lekhanagalu” (1971)

Editorship
5. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Govinahadu” (1960)
6. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Pampa Ramayana Sangraha”
7. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Bhisma Parva” (1950)

Editorship
08. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Vaddaradhane” (1995)
09. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Sukumaracharitam” (1954)
10. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Shabdamani Darpane” (1964)
11. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Sakalavaidya Sararnavam” (1932)
12. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Siddarama Charithra” (1941)
13. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Siddarma Charitheya Sangraha

Forewords & Prefaces
14. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kannadadalli Vidambana Sahitya” (1947)
15. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Toogudevege” (1963)
16. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Basavasthothrageethe” (1954)
17. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Vyavahara Kannada” (1956)
18. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Shilalathe” (1958)
19. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Shivadasa Geethanjali” (1963)
20. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Sahityada Hinnale” (1957)
21. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Sharana Charitha Manasam” (1968)
22. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kannada Chandassu”
23. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Bhasha Vijnana”
24. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Bharathiya Grantha-sampadana Parichaya”
 
Essays
25. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Aggaladeva”
26. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Agrahara” (1946)
27. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Abhinavapampana Kalavichara”
28. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Adideva (agnathakavi)”
29. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Indina Kannada Kavithe” (1943)
30. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kanno Kurudo”
31. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Karnaparyana Nemnatha Purana Vimarshe”
32. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kannadadalli Hosa Nighantuvina Avashyakathe”
33. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kannada Sahityada Sobagu”
34. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kannada Sahityadadalli Prakriti Varnane”
35. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kavi Lakshmeesha”
36. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Karohanada Panji”
37. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kalase-Kalasa-Kalaasa-Kalasa” (1947)
38. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kumaravyasana Karna” (1958)
39. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kelavaru Vachanakaararu”
40. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kelavu Ragaleya Kavigalu”
41. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Gajankusha”
42. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Guyyal – Ondu Vevachane”
43. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Chinnaveereshwara (Ondu Agnatha Kavi)
44. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Choundarasana Kalavichara”
45. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Jatasimhanadiya Varangacharithre” (1945)
46. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Jannanu Vaadirajanuu”
47. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Jinadattaraya Charithe” (1954)
48. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Danga Haku Endareenu” (1953)
49. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Turugahi Ramannana Vachanagalu” (1949)
50. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Tomara Ragale”
51. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Devanga Dasimayyana Purana” (1953)
52. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Dhavalavemba Hadina Swarupa” (1953)
53. Narasimhachar, D. L.: 41st Kannada Sahitya Sammelana Lecture
54. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Nalkaneya Mangarasa”
55. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Pakshi-Hakki ge Samana Kannada Shabda”
56. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Patingasu”
57. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Pampa (Lecture)”
58. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Ponnana Bhuvanaika Ramabhyudaya”
59. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Ponnanu Kalidasanu”
60. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Porasu – Ondu Veechara”
61. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Baradege”
62. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Basavannanavara Kelavu Vachanagala Pata”
63. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Bhagatheeya Theydem Katheyaythivarache”
64. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Bhasha Vihara – I”
65. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Bhasaha Vihara – II”
66. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Madanaavathara”
67. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Meku – Idara Artha mathu Nishpatthi”
68. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Mohenjodarodalli Ichege Nadeda Booshodhane”
69. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Ranna Kaviya Sahashra Varshikothsava”
70. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Rapana-Ravana: Abhvandane” (1956)
71. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Rudrabhatta”
72. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Reverend F. Kittel”
73. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Lakshmeeshana Kalavichara”
74. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Laala Kattisikolluva Ethu”
75. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Lingarchane mathu Lingaradhane”
76. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Revakotyacharya” (1931)
77. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Vaddaradhaneya Kelavu Vicharagalu”
78. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Vaddaradhaneyemba Halegannada Gadyagrantha”
79. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Varangacharithe” (Translation)
80. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Vijayanagara Kalada Sahitya"
81. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Vyasangada Havyasa”
82. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Sivasiddharama”
83. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Sahitya Charithreya Svaroopa”
84. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Siddalingesha”
85. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Siddaramana Veerashaivathva”
86. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Soviet Russyadalli Makkala Rangabhoomi” (1964)
87. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Mooru Shattpadagalu” (1971)
88. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kannadadalli Shabdarachane” (1971)
89. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Badube: Kannadanudi”
90. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Trasu: Kannadanudi”
91. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Gadayuddha: Ondu Padyada Arthavichara” (1967)
92. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Takkumen-Arthavichara mathu Nishpathi”
93. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Ijhill” Andarenu ?
94. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Padagala Huttu Saavu” (1963)
95. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Ardhanemiya – Ondu Padya Tippani”
96. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Bhashavihara”
97. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Bhagavatheyaju” (1963)
98. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kumaramana Sangathya”
99. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Devichandraguptha Nataka”
100. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Indina Kannada Kavithe”
101. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Manasollasadalli Chandassu” (1971)
102. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Granthasampadane” (1971)
102. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Jakkanacharya”
103. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Nighantu Rachane”
104. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Prakruta Bashegala Hesarugalu”
105. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Puranagala Kala”
 
English Works
106. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “The Genealogy of Arikesarin II–Vol 7”
107. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kannada Literature under Vijayanagara – Vijayanagara Sexcentenary Volume”
108. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Old Kannada Literature: A Brief Survey”
109. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “The Talangere Inscription of Jayasimha”
110. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Social & Religious life in Karnataka under the Satavahanas”
111. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Four Etymos from Old Kannada” (Emeneau Presentation)
112. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Empires of Karnataka – Lecture Delivered on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Historical Association of Maharaja College, Mysore”

Review, Book Introductions
113. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Akkamahadevi”
114. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kanyabali”
115. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kannada Nudiya Huttu”
116. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Karnataka Darshana”
117. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kanmareyada Kannada, Maharasthrada Moola”
118. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “GanduGuudali mathu hanigalu”
119. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Gunavarmana Pushpadantha Purana”
120. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Karnaparyana Neminatha Puranamam”
121. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Jeevanayatre”
121. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Prabhudevara Purana”
121. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Kumudendu Ramayanada Parishkarana Vichara”
122. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Premahuthi”
123. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Tiligannada Vyakarana”
124. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Marali Mannige”
125. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Mahadeviyakka”
126. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Veenanada”
127. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Vaidyaraja”
128. Narasimhachar, D. L.: “Haavu”

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