Kuvempu

Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa (29 December 1904 – 11 November 1994), popularly known by his pen name Kuvempu, was an Indian poet, playwright, novelist and critic. He is widely regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century.

Kuvempu studied at Mysuru University in the 1920s, taught there for nearly three decades and served as its vice-chancellor from 1956 to 1960. He initiated education in Kannada as the language medium. For his contributions to Kannada literature, the Government of Karnataka decorated him with the honorific Rashtrakavi ("National Poet") in 1964 and Karnataka Ratna ("The Gem of Karnataka") in 1992. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 1958 and Padma Vibhushan in 1988 by the Government of India. He penned the Karnataka State Anthem Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate.

Biography

Early life and education

Kuvempu was born in Hirekodige, a village in Koppa taluk of Chikmagalur district and raised in Kuppalli, a village in Shivamogga district of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore (now in Karnataka) into a Kannada-speaking Vokkaliga family. His mother Seethamma hailed from Koppa, Chikmangalur, while his father Vemkatappa was from Kuppali, a village in Thirthahalli taluk (in present-day Shimoga district), where he was raised. He had two younger sisters, Danamma and Puttamma. He joined the Anglo-Vernacular school in Thirthahalli to continue his middle school education. Kuvempu's father died when he was only twelve. He finished his lower and secondary education in Kannada and English languages in Thirthahalli and moved to Mysore for further education at the Wesleyan High School. Thereafter, he pursued college studies at the Maharaja College of Mysore and graduated in 1929, majoring in Kannada.

Family

Kuvempu married Hemavathi on 30 April 1937. He was forced to enter marital life on this faculty out of Ramakrishna Mission. Kuvempu had two sons, Poornachandra Tejaswi and Kokilodaya Chaitra, and two daughters, Indukala and Tharini. Tharini is married to K.Chidananda Gowda the former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University.

Writings

Epic

Sri Ramayana Darshanam/ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಾಯಣ ದರ್ಶನಂ - Volume-01 (1949), Volume-02 (1957) Chitrangada/ಚಿತ್ರಾಂಗದಾ

Novels

Kaanuru Heggaditi/ಕಾನೂರು ಹೆಗ್ಗಡಿತಿ (1926) Malegalalli Madumagalu/ಮಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮದುಮಗಳು (1967)

Plays

Jalagaara/ಜಲಗಾರ (1928) Birugaali/ಬಿರುಗಾಳಿ (1930) Maharaatri/ಮಹಾರಾತ್ರಿ (1931) Smashana Kurukshethra/ಸ್ಮಶಾನ ಕುರುಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ (1931) Raktaakshi/ರಕ್ತಾಕ್ಷಿ (1932) Shoodra Tapaswi/ಶೂದ್ರ ತಪಸ್ವಿ (1944) Beralge koral/ಬೆರಳ್ಗೆ ಕೊರಳ್ Yamana solu/ಯಮನ ಸೇೂಲು Chandrahasa/ಚಂದ್ರಹಾಸ Balidaana/ಬಲಿದಾನ Kaaneena/ಕಾನೀನ (1974)

Autobiography

Nenapina Doniyali/ನೆನಪಿನ ದೇೂಣಿಯಲಿ (1980)

Collection of stories Sanyaasi Mattu Itare Kathegalu / ಸನ್ಯಾಸಿ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರೆ ಕಥೆಗಳು (1937) Nanna Devaru Mattu Itare Kathegalu / ನನ್ನ ದೇವರು ಮತ್ತು ಇತರೆ ಕಥೆಗಳು (1940)

Essays Malenaadina Chittragalu / ಮಲೆನಾಡಿನ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು (1933)

Literary criticism

Atmashreegagi Nirankushamatigalagi (1969) Kavyavihara (1969) Taponandana (1969) Vibhuthi Pooje / ವಿಭೂತಿ ಪೂಜೆ (1969) Draupadiya Shrimudi (1969) Vicharakrantige Ahvana (1969) Sahityaprachara Ithyadi Raso Vai Saha

Essay and Other Manujamatha Viswapatha Kavya Vihara Mantramangalya

Biography

Swami Vivekananda (1932) Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1934)

Translation

Guruvinodane Devaredege Janapriya Valmiki Ramayana

Stories and poems for children

Bommanahalliya kindarijogi(1936) Mari vijnani(1947) Meghapura (1947) Nanna mane Nanna gopala Amalana kathe Sahasa pavana Modannana Tamma Narigaligeke Kodilla Haluru

Poetry Kolalu (1930) Panchajanya (1933) Navilu (1934) Kalasundari (1934) Kathana Kavanagalu (1937) Kogile Matthu Soviet Russia (1944) Prema Kashmeera (1946) Agnihamsa (1946) Krutthike (1946) Pakshikashi (1946) Kinkini (Collection of Vachana) (1946) Shodashi (1946) Chandramanchake Baa Chakori (1957) Ikshugangothri (1957) Anikethana (1963) Jenaguva (1964) Anutthara (1965) Manthrakshathe (1966) Kadaradake (1967) Prethakyoo (1967) Kuteechaka (1967) Honna Hotthaare (1976) Koneya Thene Matthu Vishwamanava Sandesha (1981)

Movies Kanooru Heggadithi (directed by Girish Karnad).

Drama Malegalalli Madumagalu (directed by Basavalingaiah)

Awards and honours Karnataka Ratna (1992) Jnanpith Award (1967) Rashtrakavi ("National Poet") (1964) Sahitya Akademi Award (1955) To landmark the golden jubilee of Kannada's first Jnanapeeth award, on 29 December 2017, Kuvempu's 113th birth anniversary, Google India dedicated a Google Doodle in his honor.

Memorials

Kavimane — Kuvempu Memorial

The childhood home of Kuvempu at Kuppali has been converted into a museum by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Pratishtana (a trust dedicated to Kuvempu). This trust has undertaken immense developmental works in Kuppali to showcase Kuvempu and his works to the external world. On the night of 23 November 2015, many valuables including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards conferred on poet laureate Kuvempu were stolen from Kavimane.

The entire museum has been ransacked. The surveillance cameras there have also been damaged. The Jnanapith award kept there has remained intact.

Kavishaila The gradually rising hill south of the house is named Kavishaila, Kuvempu's mortal remains were placed at Kavishaila. The Vishwamanava Express was named in honour of Kuvempu's idea of "Vishwa Manava" ("Universal Man").

India Post honoured Kuvempu by releasing a postage stamp in 1997 and 2017.

Shivamogga Airport is named after him.