Given all this, a truthful critique of any work of Bhyrappa needs to use only literary yardsticks instead of boxing them into this or that political or social theory. This is also not to argue that Bhyrappa’s novels are perfect in every way. Not all of his 20-plus novels are of the same standard. His Grahana, DooraSaridaru, Anveshane, and Matadanaare not comparable to his major novels. Yet, almost all criticism of Bhyrappa’s novels has focused not on the actual content of his work but on the author’s perceived image as a “Hindutva” writer. To put it bluntly, this is neither literary criticism nor does it speak well about his critics.