Kuvempu
Kuvempu - (ಕುವೆಂಪು) is the pen name of a well-known
Kannada writer/poet of the 20th century; Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa (
1904 -
1994).He is a recipient of the highest award for literary work in
India:
Jnanpith Award. He was first among the Kannada writers to receive this honour. His work
Sri Ramayana Darshanam, the rewriting of the great ancient Indian epic
Ramayana, in contemporary Kannada, is regarded as the work that gave a fresh glimpses of the era of
Mahakayva (Great Epics) in a contemporary form and charm. He is immortalised by some of his phrases and in particular far his contribution to the
Universal Humanism or in his own terms "
Vishwa maanavataa Vaada".
Kuvempu was born on
December 29,
1904, in Hirekodige, Koppa Taluk,
Chikmagalur District to a Kannada speaking family. He was brought up in a place in the lush
Malenadu region of
Tirthahalli, called Kuppalli, of
Shimoga District, (central Karnataka, India). He pursued his studies in
Mysore. Among the prestigious positions he held were Vice Chancellor of the
University of Mysore. He received the
Jnanpith award, the highest literary award in
India.
Kuvempu started his literary work in English first and later switched to Kannada.
Kuvempu was more than a writer, the way he lived his life has in itself a great message. He was against castesim , meaningless practices & rituals . Kuvempu's writings also reflect a resentment against the caste system according to which the shudras were unfit to attain knowledge. Kuvempu, himself a shudra (actually vokkaliga community) also gives a different perspective to the characters in the Ramayana unlike the portrayal of characters by
Valmiki.
'O nanna chetana, Agu nee aniketana' (" ನನ್ನ ಚೇತನ, ಆಗು ನೀ ಅನಿಕೇತನ ¦¦ )is a very popular note 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 and urges for a sreious thought on India. Though it was delivered in
1974, the message is still dated and relevant.
* Sri Ramayana Darshanam(
ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಾಯಣ ದರ್ಶನಂ) - won him the prestigious
Jnanpith Award. It is very famous literary work in Kannada Literature. This is also the first work that fetched the Jnanpith Award to Kannada.This work is the complete
Ramayana in Kannada. It undesrcores his vision of 'sarvodaya' (Liberation of One & All.)The hero, of his Ramayana, personifies this when he tests himself along with his wife Seetha, when he jumps into Fire.
* Kaanuru Subbamma Heggadati
* Malegalalli Madumagalu
* Pakshikaashi (A collection of poems)
* Nenapina Doniyalli is his autobiography which gives detailed account of his childhood and the influence of the teachings of
Swami Vivekananda on him.
* Raso Vai Saha
* Draupadiya Shrimudi
* Sarovarada Sirigannadiyalli
* Guruvinodane Devaradege
* Swami Vivekananda
* Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
* Kolalu (Flute)
* Chandramanchake Baa Chakori
* Paanchajanya
* Kogile Mattu Soviet Russia
* Premakaashmira
* Agnihamsa
* Ikshugangotri
* Kabbigana kaibutti
* Pakshikaashi
* Nanna devaru mattu itare kathegalu
* Malenadina Kathegalu
* Sanyaasi mattu itare kathegaLu
* Jalagaara
* Beralge koral
* Shoodra tapaswi
* Yamana solu (Yama's defeat against Sati Savitri)
* Raktaakshi
* SmashaaNa kurukshetram
* Chandrahaasa
* Balidaana
* Birugaali
* Bommanahalliya kindarijogi (The pide Piper in kannada)
* Modannana tamma
* Nanna gopaala
* Mari vijnani
* Meghapura
* Amalana kathe
* Nanna mane
Kuvempu was awarded the
Jnanpith award for his
Sri RamayaNa Darshanam. He was awarded the first ever
Pampa Award &
Karnataka ratna award. He is a recipient of the
Padma Bhushan and the
Padma Vibhushan. He also was awarded the 'Kendra Saahithya Academy' award for his continued excellence in enriching Kannada literature.
He spearheaded the Kannada Medium Education, emphasizing the theme of "Education in Mother tongue". To cater to the needs of Kannada-research, He founded the Kannada adhyayana kendra (Study Centre for Kannada) in Mysore University.While he was the Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University (1956-1960), He pioneered the study of Basic Sciences and Languages. He also championed the Publishing of "Knowledge for layman", started by G Hanumantayya.
In the year
1987, a new university was started near
Shimoga,
Karnataka in the name of Kuvempu. It is named as
Kuvempu University and is located in Jnana Sahyadri campus which is 28 k.m. from Shimoga.
Perhaps Kuvempu's biggest contribution to Kannada is his son
K P Purnachandra Tejaswi, who is some sort of a
PolyMath (
Literature,
Photography,
Calligraphy,
Digital Imaging,
Social Movements, and
Agriculture).
*
Kuvempu Picture Album at Kamat's Potpourri
*
Kuvempu Page at NIC Shimoga
