Bolwar Mahammad Kunhi

Bolwar Mahammad Kunhi
Bolwar Mahammad Kunhi
Born	22 October 1951 Puttur, Puttur taluk, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka
Pen name	Bolwar
Occupation	Retired Chief manager, Syndicate Bank (December 1972 to October 2011), writer, playwright
Nationality	India
Genre	Short stories, Novels, Plays, Biographies
Literary movement	Activist working against radicalization of youth towards religious extremism

Bolwar Mahammad Kunhi (born 1951) is a short story writer, novelist, playwright and scriptwriter, who writes in the Kannada language.^[1] He is known for introducing Muslim culture into Kannada prose.

Kunhi authored short story collections, novels, stage plays and children's books, besides several other editorial works. He won three Sahitya Akademi Awards from Karnataka Sahitya Academy, including a lifetime achievement award (1997). He won National Awards for his contribution to Kannada Films. His works have been translated into other Indian languages. His works, focus on erasing illusions about Islam in India and nurturing a more positive outlook towards Islam.

A post-graduate with a gold medal in Kannada literature from Mysore University, Kunhi is now retired from being a chief manager for Syndicate Bank's Bangalore Corporate Office.^[1]

Works

This writer edited what is considered the finest work ever produced in Kannada for children – "Tattu Chappale Putta Magu", a collection of over 100 poems and "Santammanna", an anthology of 40-odd illustrated poems.^[2]

He is the recipient of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award for the story of an ordinary Mohandas who became Mahatma Gandhi in his "Paapu Gandhi" Bapu Gandhi Aada Kathe. Apart from Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar, only Bolwar has written about Gandhi for children. The Mahatma had kept the child Monu alive in himself until he died a martyr. The book spoke of Mehtab, Gandhi's Muslim friend who was a great source of courage to him. It was translated and published in English with the title Gandhi – From Monu To Mahatma.^[3] During the book launch Jnanapith awardee, U.R. Ananthamurthy said in praise of Kunhi's book "This is one of the best books on Mahatma Gandhi for children and adults". Ananthamurthy also said Kunhi is blessed with great insight, and that his works are finely tuned, transcending time. "Kunhi's collection of songs and poems are among the best in contemporary Kannada literature,".^[4] The book was also enacted as children's play.^[5]

His extended short story, "Ondu Thundu Godae," or "A Bit of Wall" treats the explosive Ayodhya theme in a humorous, personal vein. He recounts the story of an old woman, Roti-Phatumma, who wanted to build her own house by acquiring what she believed to be a bit of the wall from the broken pieces of the Babri Masjid. Tongue-in-cheek Kunhi balances serious, comic and poignant aspects.^[6]

His epic 1,110-page opus named "Swathranthada Ota" (in English: The run for independence) released on 18 March 2012 at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore.

Awards and recognition

In addition to Karntaka Rajyotsva Award (2012) he received 3 Sahitya Akademi Awards from Karnataka Sahitya Academy, including its lifetime achievement award (Fellow of Karnataka Sahitya Academy-1997). In 2010 he celebrated many Central Sahitya Academy awards for his book on Gandhi.

He received several other literary awards including, Bharathiya Sahitya Samsthana Award, Kolkatta (1981), Katha-Delhi (1993), Aryabhata (1984), Parashurama (2001) Shivarama Karantha Balavna Award, Basavaraja Kattimani Award (2013) besides winning National and State Awards (2002 and 2003) for his contribution to Kannada Films.

Varthabharathi daily newspapers, Sunday supplement – Suggi dedicated an article on Kunhi and prominent Kannada writer Yashwant Vithoba Chittal. It concentrated on their plans for future books. It was published on 15 August 2011, India's independence day.^[7]

References