D. V. Gundappa

Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs has brought out all publications of D. V. Gundappa in the form of eBooks.

Published in 1943, Mankuthimmana Kagga is a well-known literary work in Kannada. Its title translates to "Dull Thimma's Rigmarole." The text consists of philosophical verses that address themes such as resilience, detachment, human aspirations, social responsibility, and ego dissolution. It employs similes, metaphors, and varied linguistic expressions. The work has been translated into English (twice), Hindi, and Sanskrit. Author D.V. Gundappa (DVG) is regarded by critics such as Ranganatha Sharma as a significant figure in Kannada literature and is noted for his engagement with social issues D. V. G wrote a sequel to Mankuthimmana Kagga, known as Marula Muniyana Kagga. Marula Muniyana Kagga is practically the extension of Mankuthimmana Kagga. These are the stray poems of DVG which have been collected together and published after his death. There are 825 poems in this book, 120 poems less than the number of poems in Kagga. • Like the growing tail of • Hanuman in Lanka, • Questions and problems keep • Surging forth for this talkative, • a stammerer, Marula Muniya • No Comic story is this Kagga, nor • It is an emotional outpouring, • Stuff it is for cogitation in mind, • Enjoy each poem, one at a time, Marula Muniya He also wrote Srimad BhagavadGeeta Tatparya, also known as Jeevana Dharma Yoga, which received the Sahitya Akademi Award. This commentary focuses on applying the philosophical concepts of the Bhagavad Gita to everyday life, framing the text as a practical guide for the general reader. Vasantha Kusumanjali was the first collection of poems of DVG. Poems on popular personalities such as nationalists, social reformers, administrators, philanthropists and their activities have been included in this collection. The pen pictures of Tilak, Gokhale, Rabindranath Tagore, Visvesvaraya, Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Gandhi highlight the characteristic qualities of the personalities depicted. On the occasion of his birth centenary, all his works compiled in eleven volumes titled "D.V.G. Kriti Shreni", are jointly published by Department of Kannada and Culture and Karnataka Sahitya Academy. Very ably edited by late Dr. Ha.Ma. Nayak the volumes were published between 1990 and 2000. A second edition was brought out in 2005. DVG served as the president of the 18th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana (Literary Conference) held in Madikeri in 1932. DVG was a pioneer in writing biography in Kannada. He knew well that human traits were basic material for both creative writing and writing of biography. The book Dadabhai Navaroji that he wrote in 1950 is in a way his experiment with biographical writing. The first biography of Rangacharlu by DVG virtually reveals the author's abounding interest in politics, his deep public sympathy and his faith firmly rooted in democracy. These very values of the author were reiterated in his second biography of Gopalakrishna Gokhale. Other than the biography of Diwan Rangacharlu, the biography of Gopalakrishna Gokhale by DVG is a much appreciated one. Gopalakrishna Gokhale had immense influence on DVG. He was in total agreement with Gokhale's principle, namely, "Public life must be spiritualized". This very fact led him to found the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs later. In the preface to the biography, DVG wrote "I have written this book to enuciate some principles, ends and means in which I have full faith, implementation of which would do good to the people and society." Gokhale lived a frugal life. This quality along with the undivided commitment to finish the works being undertaken, heavily influenced DVG throughout his life. The biography of Gokhale saw many reprints and it was also prescribed as a textbook. Selected lectures of Gokhale were later added to it. Beyond his individual biographies, DVG's largest work in this genre was Jnapakachitrashaale ("Art Gallery of Memories"), an eight-volume series of prose reminiscences written in the 1970s. It brings together character sketches of the many people he came to know over his lifetime, with individual volumes organized around a shared theme, such as Volume 3 (Sahityopasakaru), devoted to Kannada and Sanskrit literary scholars, and Volume 4 (Mysurina Diwanaru), covering the Dewans of Mysore. DVG founded the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs GIPA) located in Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi and promoted fine arts of India. Sri Nittoor Srinivasa Rao, The then Chief Justice of Karnataka, Masti Venkatesa Iyengar, V.T.Srinivasan, the Principal of Vijaya College, Bengaluru were some of his close associates. DVG died on 7 October 1975. The road where his residence existed in Nagasandra road has been renamed as DVG Road in Basavanagudi.

• Illustration — D.V. Gundappa's statue at Bugle Rock Park, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru. Gundappa was awarded Padmabhushan by the Government of India in 1974. The State of Karnataka under Chief Minister Sri Veerandra Patil honored him for his services to Kannada literature in 1970 at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru and awarded a purse of Rs 90,000. DVG donated the entire award money to the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs. India Post issued a commemorative stamp of Dr. Gundappa in 1988. He also Consider for Jnanpith Award by first selection board in 1965 but award is won by a Malayalam writer Sankara krupa. In 2003, a statue was erected to honor DVG in Bugle Rock Park, Basavanagudi.

• Indravajra • Bekkoji • Dewan Rangacharlu • Gopal Krishna Gokhale