Mysore/Mysuru: Folk Scholar Jayalakshmi Seethapura (70), a resident of Saraswathipuram in city, passed away at a private Hospital here on Sunday.

She leaves behind her husband Dr. Rajashekar, a faculty of JSS Law College, two daughters, who live abroad and a host of relatives and friends.

Jayalakshmi who had sustained injuries when the car in which she was proceeding to Bengaluru last week met with an accident near Mandya, was undergoing treatment at a city Hospital, where she died of a heart attack on Sunday.

A native of Seethapura in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district, Jayalakshmi got her MA Degree in Folklore from University of Mysore.

She later served the University as a Research Assistant and got her Ph.D Degree for her research work on the subject ‘Kannadadalli Aitihaasika Janapada Mahakavyagalu’.

She later was selected to America’s Ford Foundation Fellowship and joined as a faculty of Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies, Manasagangothri, where she retired.

Jayalakshmi Seethapura has many books and edited works to her credit. She has bagged many awards and prizes including Gishampa award given by Karnataka Janapada Mattu Yakshagana Academy, Muddu Maddappa award and Janapada Loka award.

Last rites will be performed at Jayanagar Burial Grounds tomorrow (June 18), according to family sources.