[1] A prolific writer, he authored 25 Kannada books[2] including "Bengalurina Itihasa",[3] one of the few authentic sources on the history of Bengaluru from founding till Indian independence.

[4] He also wrote and published biographies of notable people of Karnataka, several travelogues, short stories, poems and many articles in various periodicals.

[5] He was a great orator and gave lectures on history, literature, education and the Indian freedom movement.

The lecture notes were compiled into the nucleus of a book, and turned into his magnum opus, Bengalurina Itihasa,[4][15] which was released in 1986 by Chief Editor of the Karnataka State Gazetteer Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath.

Sum's birth centenary was celebrated in 2018, when public interest was revived, and his contribution to Kannada literature was hailed.