L. Gundappa

Giving one’s all for the revival of the Kannada language and establishing a firm foundation for its growth in the coming century, and yet remaining an unassuming humble person – this was Professor L. Gundappa.

Contents

Sources

Articles in Kannada (a South Indian language) newspapers: :Article by Prof. G. Venakatasubbaiah in "Kannada Prabha" January 5, 2004; and various authors in "Prajavaani" January 4, 2004 and "Vijaya Karnataka" Sunday 11 January 2004. These articles were written in Kannada as part of centennial celebrations for L. Gundappa.

Early Education

Gundappa was born on January 8, 1903 to Chennamma and Lingannayya, a Brahmin couple in the small south Indian village Matighatta. His early childhood education was in historical Belur where he assimilated a meticulous and in-depth education in Sanskrit and the Vedas. He had quite a mastery of Sanskrit by the time he completed his middle school education. Seeking a proper high school education, Gundappa moved to Chikkamagalooru. There, the young Gundappa got noticed for his original devotional poems in Sanskrit that he composed and presented at a welcoming ceremony for Abhinava Vidya Theertha Swami, the religious leader (pontiff) of the Sringeri Vidya Peetha. The Swami declared that a small monthly stipend would be awarded from the Sringeri Matha to support Gundappa's college education.

College Education and Inspirations

The Mysore Maharaja’s College where Gundappa studied was a fertile ground of intellectuals working for India’s rising from oppression by the British Raj. Movements were being born at the universities urging Indians to rediscover their own heritage hereto neglected under foreign rule. Several of the leaders were literary giants of the day who were faculty members at the university including B.M.Sri (Gundappa’s mentor), T.S. Venkataiah, and A.R. Krishnashastry. Gundappa was drawn to this cause of rediscovering the pride in Indian culture and literature. Urged by his mentor to learn another Indian language than his mother tongue Kannada, Gundappa chose Tamil as a part of the curriculum for a Masters degree in languages. He set out to serve the Kannada people by re-introducing them to their own glorious heritage by writing works of literature from Sanskrit, Tamil, and English (selecting world literature translated to English by others) by way of meticulous translations to Kannada that were to be his life’s work.

L. Gundappa served as a professor of Kannada literature in Bangalore University for most of his career.

Family life

Gundappa was married to Smt. Sharada of Akki Hebbal and had 7 children, of whom Dr. L.G. Sumitra made original contributions to Kannada Folklore, folk Music, and broadcasting (winning HOSO Bunka, an international Award for broadcasting). Vimala Rajagopal applied Kannada folk music to the field of music therapy and also teaches Kannada as a foreign language in the US. Kamala Balu was a national newcaster in Kannada from New Delhi. Amritheshwar is an author of children's books, Veena Rao is a painter and nutritionist, Dr. Vasanthi Culleton, a researcher and scientific writer for the pharmaceutical industry and L. G. Jyothishwara, a producer of travel books and videos about historic venues in Karnataka. Additionally, Sumitra, Vimala and Kamala were singers widely known already in their teens as L.G. sisters, who popularized kannada folk songs and Bhava Geethegalu (light songs) by contemporary poets such as pu.thi. Na and Bendre.

Awards

Original Works of L. Gundappa

(Kannada title followed by a translation of the meaning)

Books for which L. Gundappa was Editor/publisher

Translations from Tamil

(or from Kannada to Tamil where specified)

Translations from Sanskrit to Kannada

Manuscripts

Translations of World Literature from English to Kannada

Manuscripts

Other literary works