Kuvempu

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ಕೆ.ವಿ. ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ - K.V. Puttappa

© Kamat's Potpourri
Born 29 December 1904(1904-12-29)
Hirekodige, Koppa taluk, Chikmagalur district, Karnataka
Died 11 November 1994 (aged 89)
Mysore, Karnataka
Pen name Kuvempu - ಕುವೆಂಪು
Occupation Writer, Professor
Nationality India
Genres Fiction
Literary movement Navodaya
Influences
Signature
Official website

Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa (Kannada: ಕುಪ್ಪಳ್ಳಿ ವೆಂಕಟಪ್ಪಗೌಡ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ) (December 29, 1904 - November 11, 1994) [1] is a Kannada writer, poet, widely regarded as the greatest poet of 20th century Kannada literature. He is the first among seven recipients[2] of Jnanpith Award for Kannada. Puttappa wrote all his literary works using the pen name Kuvempu. He is the second among Kannada poets to be revered as Rashtrakavi (after M. Govinda Pai). His work Sri Ramayana Darshanam, the rewriting of the great ancient Indian epic Ramayana in modern Kannada, is regarded as revival of the era of Mahakayva (Epic poetry) in a contemporary form and charm. He is immortalised by some of his phrases, and in particular for his contribution to Universal Humanism or in his own words Vishwa maanavataa Vaada. He was conferred Padma Bhushan by Government of India.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life and education

Kuvempu's ancestral house in Kuppali
Kuvempu's ancestral house in Kuppali

Kuvempu was born in Hirekodige, Koppa taluk, of Chikmagalur district to a native Kannada family. He was brought up in a place in the lush Malenadu region of Tirthahalli, called Kuppali, of Shivamogga district. His education began at his home by an appointed teacher from Dakshina Kannada. He joined Anglo Vernacular school in Tirthahalli to continue his middle school education. He lost his father Venkatappa Gowda at the early age of 12 due to ill health. Kuvempu finished his lower and secondary education in Kannada and English in Tirthahalli. He moved to Mysore for further education and completed his high school from Weslian high school. He pursued his college studies in from Maharaja College of Mysore and graduated in 1929 majoring in Kannada. He married Hemavathi on 30 April 1937.

[edit] Later life

He had two sons and two daughters. Poornachendra Tejasvi, Kokilodaya Chaitra, Indukala and Tharini. Tharini is married to K. Chidananda Gowda, the former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University. He responded poetically to even mundane events. When he got a car, he is quoted to have said, "Chakracharanake swagatha!" - Welcome to wheel footed! He named his house as "Udayaravi", "Rising Sun", called the farmer "uluva Yogi" the "tilling Yogi", and called for egalatarian society in his message "Sarvarige samapaalu, sarvarige samabaalu" "Equal share for all, Equal life for all". His "Raso Vai Saha" is a famous work of "kavya mimamsa", the "Principles of literary criticism", in the Kannada thought of twentieth century. He is credited for giving Kannada hundreds of new words, phrases and terminologies with distinctly precise ideas; literary, social, phylosophical and spiritual. This led to common people asking him to suggest a name for their newborns, for decades, through postal correspondece, which he obliged!

[edit] Career

Kuvempu began his academic career as a lecturer of Kannada language at Maharaja College of Mysore in 1929. He served as an assistant professor in central college of Bangalore from 1936. He rejoined Maharaja college of Mysore in 1946 as a professor. He went on to become a principal of Maharaja college in 1955. Soon in 1956 he was elected as the Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University where he served till retirement in 1960. He was the first graduate from Mysore University to rise to that position.[3]

[edit] Works and Message

Kuvempu's house "Udayaravi" in Mysore
Kuvempu's house "Udayaravi" in Mysore
Kuvempu's memorial in Kavishaila, Kuppalli
Kuvempu's memorial in Kavishaila, Kuppalli

Kuvempu started his literary work in English first, with a collection of poetry called Beginner's Mus, and later switched to Kannada.

He spearheaded Kannada as a medium for education, emphasizing the theme of "Education in Mother tongues". To cater to the needs of Kannada research, he founded the Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe (The Institute of Kannada Studies) in Mysore University. As Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University, he pioneered the study of Basic Sciences and Languages. He also championed the Publishing of knowledge for laymen, started by G. Hanumanta Rao.

Kuvempu was more than a writer, and the way he lived his life was in itself a great message. He was against casteism, meaningless practices and rituals. Kuvempu's writings also reflect his resentment against the caste system according to which the shudras were unfit to attain knowledge. Kuvempu (from the Vokkaliga community) also gives a different perspective to the characters in the Ramayana unlike the portrayal of characters by Valmiki in his Sri Ramayana Darshanam which won him Jnanpith Award. This work is the complete Ramayana in Kannada. It underscores his vision of sarvodaya (Upliftment of One & All). Rama of his Ramayana personifies this when he tests himself along with his wife Seeta, by jumping into the fire.

O nanna chetana, Agu nee aniketana (ಓ ನನ್ನ ಚೇತನ, ಆಗು ನೀ ಅನಿಕೇತನ ) which can be translated as "Be unhoused o my soul, only the infinite is your goal" is a very popular note by Kuvempu on Universal Humanism.

His speech during the convocation ceremony of Bangalore University has been published in the book, vichaarakranthige aahwaana. It calls for a re-assessment of developmental policies. Though it was delivered in 1974, the message is still considered relevant.

In the year 1987, a new university was started in Shimoga district, Karnataka in the name of Kuvempu. It is located in Jnana Sahyadri campus, 28 km from Shimoga.

His son Poornachandra Tejaswi is a polymath, contributing significantly to Literature, Photography, Calligraphy, Digital Imaging, Social Movements, and Agriculture.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] Awards

And many more.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Novels

  • Kaanuru Subbamma Heggadati (1936)
  • Malegalalli Madumagalu (1967)

[edit] Modern epic (Mahakavya)

  • Sri Ramayana Darshanam, Vol-1 (1949), Vol-2 (1957)

[edit] Collection of Poems

  • Kolalu (1930)
  • Panchajanya (1936)
  • Navilu (1937)
  • Kindarijogi Mattu Itara Kavanagalu (1938)
  • Kogile Mattu Soviet Russia (1944)
  • Shoodra Tapaswi (1946)
  • Kavya Vihara (1946)
  • Kinkini (1946)
  • Agnihamsa (1946)
  • Prema Kashmira (1946)
  • Chandramanchake Baa Chakori (1954)
  • Ikshugangotri (1957)
  • Kabbigana kaibutti
  • Pakshikaashi
  • Jenaaguvaa
  • Kutichaka
  • Kadiradake
  • Kathana KavanagaLu

[edit] Plays

  • Birugaali (1930)
  • Maharatri (1931)
  • SmashaaNa kurukshetram (1931)
  • Jalagaara (1931)
  • Raktaakshi(1932)
  • Shoodra tapaswi (1944)
  • Beralge koral (1947)
  • Yamana solu
  • Chandrahaasa
  • Balidaana

[edit] Autobiography

  • Nenapina Doniyali (1980)

[edit] Collection of stories

  • Malenadina Chitragalu (1933)
  • Sanyaasi Mattu Itare KategaLu (1937)
  • Nanna Devaru Mattu Itara Kategalu (1940)

[edit] Literary criticism

  • Atmashreegagi Nirankushamatigalagi (1944)
  • Kavyavihara (1946)
  • Taponandana (1951)
  • Vibhuthi Pooje (1953)
  • Draupadiya Shrimudi (1960)
  • Vicharakrantige Ahvana (1976)
  • Sahityaprachara

[edit] Biography

  • Swami Vivekananda(1926)
  • Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa(1934)
  • Guruvinodane Devaredege

[edit] Stories for children

  • Bommanahalliya kindarijogi(1936)
  • Mari vijnani(1947)
  • Meghapura(1947)
  • Nanna mane(1947)
  • Nanna gopaala
  • Amalana kathe

[edit] Kuvempu's works in visual media

[edit] Movies

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ The Gentle Radiance of a Luminous Lamp. Ramakrishna Math. Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
  2. ^ Jnanapeeth Awards. Ekavi. Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
  3. ^ Bharati, Veena. Poet, nature lover and humanist. Deccan Herald. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.

[edit] External links

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