M. Govinda Pai

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Manjeshwar Govinda Pai (Kannada: ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರ ಗೋವಿಂದ ಪೈ) (1883-1963), also known as Rastrakavi Govinda Pai, was a Kannada poet. He was awarded the Rashtrakavi title by the Madras Government (Kasaragod district was part of South Kanara district of Madras state prior to the States reorganisation on 1st November 1956 ^[1]). Govinda Pai was the one who put Manjeshwaram on the literary maps of Karnataka^[2].

Govinda Pai was also a prolific prose writer. His earliest composition in prose was Srikrishna Charita (1909) which provides for remarkable reading. His best works written in blank verse, viz., Golgotha (the last days of Christ, published in 1937), Vaisakhi (The last days of Budha, published in 1946) and Hebberaqlu (The Thumb, the story of Ekalavya retold, published in 1946) have won for Govinda Pai a lasting place in the gallery of the greatest poets of Kannada literature^[3].

Govinda Pai was born on 23rd March 1883 in his maternal grandfather's house in Manjeshwaram^[4]. He was the first son of Mangaluru savakar Thimma Pai and Devaki Amma. Govinda Pai went to school in Mangalore.

1 Works
2 See also
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Works

His poems are...

Gilivindu (1930) (A fight of Parrots)

His first collection Gilivindu consists of 46 poems exhibits poets perspective towards life, his love for the country, his responsiveness to the nature around him and his love for Kannada.

Nandadeepa (The enduring lamp)

His Nandadeepa consisting of 37 poems, a tribute of divotion to God.

Hrudayaranga

His other works are...

Hebberalu (On Elalavya)
Chitrabhanu (On Quit India movement)
Vaishaki (About the last days f the Buddha)\
Mannina Sogadu

In 1949, the then Madras Government conferred on him the "Rashtrakavi" Award. He was president of the Kannada Sahitya Sammelan at Mumbai in 1951. On his 125th birth anniversary, a national award was instituted in his name and his old house at Manjeshwar is mooted to be a national monument.