Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa

Kuvempu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa (29 December 1904 – 11 November 1994),  popularly known by his pen name Kuvempu, was an Indian novelist, poet, playwright, critic and thinker. He is widely regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century. He is the first among Kannada writers to be decorated with the prestigious Jnanpith Award.

Kuvempu studied at Mysore University in the 1920s, taught there for nearly three decades and seKannada Literature, the Government of Karnataka decorated him with the honorific Rashtrakavi ("National Poet") in 1958 and Karnataka Ratna ("The Gem of Karnataka") in 1992. His epic narrative Sri Ramayana Darshanam, a modern rendition of the Indian Hindu epic Ramayana is regarded as the revival of the era of Mahakavya ("Great Epic Poetry") in contemporary form and charm. His writings and his contribution to "Universal Humanism" (in his own words, "Vishwamaanavata Vaada") gives him a unique place in modern Indian literature. He was conferred the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 1988. He penned the Karnataka State Anthem Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate.

rved as its vice-chancellor from 1956 to 1960. He initiated education in Kannada as the language medium. For his contributions to

Kuvempu started his literary work in English, with a collection of poetry called Beginner's Muse but later switched to his native Kannada. He spearheaded the movement to make Kannada the medium for education, emphasizing the theme "Education in the Mother tongue". To cater to the needs of Kannada research, he founded the Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe ("Institute of Kannada Studies") in the Mysore University, which has since been renamed after him as "Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies". As Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University, he pioneered the study of sciences and languages. He championed the publishing of Knowledge for the laymen with by G. Hanumanta Rao.

Kuvempu was more than a writer for his life was in itself a 'great message'. He was against casteism, meaningless practices and religious ritual. Kuvempu's writings reflect his resentment against these practices. The Shoodra Tapaswi ("untouchable saint") was one such writing. Kuvempu who was from the Vokkaliga community gave a perspective to the ancient epic Ramayana that was quite unlike the portrayal of the characters by the original author Valmiki. Kuvempu's version of the epic called Sri Ramayana Darshanam won him the prestigious Jnanpith Award. His epic underscores his vision of Sarvodaya ("upliftment of all"). The protagonist of his epic, the Hindu god Rama, personifies this when he tests himself along with his consort Sita by jumping into the fire.

The speech he made during the convocation ceremony of Bangalore University was published in the book Vichaarakranthige Aahwaana. It calls for a re-assessment of developmental policies. Though it was delivered in 1974, the message is still considered relevant to modern society. In the year 1987, The Government of Karnataka started the Kuvempu University in the Shimoga district, Karnataka. This is located in the Jnana Sahyadri campus, 28  km from Shimoga city.

Quotes

• Chakracharanake swagatha  – "Welcome to wheel footed" when he bought his first car
• Uluva Yogi ("tilling Yogi") is the title he gave the farmer
• Sarvarige samapaalu, sarvarige samabaalu ("Equal share for all, Equal life for all", when he called for egalitarian society).
• O nanna chetana, Agu nee aniketana ("Be unhoused O my soul, only the infinite is your goal").