Kuvempu

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.

Kuvempu studied at University of Mysore, Maharaja's College, Mysore and Hardwick High School and College. The recorded working language is Kannada. Works named in the authority record are Sri Ramayana Darshanam. Distinctions recorded are Jnanpith Award, Sahitya Akademi Award in Kannada, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan in literature & education.

• Name — Kuvempu • Pen Name — Kuvempu • Birth Name — Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa • Born — 29 December 1904 • Birthplace — Hirekodige, Koppa, Chikmagalur, Kingdom of Mysore (now in Karnataka)[1] • Died — 11 November 1994 • Place of death — Mysore, Karnataka, India • Occupation — Poet, novelist, playwright, academic • Language — Kannada • Genre — Fiction, drama • Movement — Navodaya • Children — 4, including Poornachandra Tejaswi • Awards — Karnataka Ratna (1992) Padma Vibhushan (1988) Jnanapith Award (1967) Padma Bhushan (1958) Sahitya Akademi Award (1955)[2][18]

• Illustration — Kuvempu's ancestral house in Kuppali 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.[8] 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.[9] Early in his childhood, Kuvempu was home-schooled by an appointed teacher from South Canara.[10] 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.[11]

Kuvempu married Hemavathi on 30 April 1937. He was forced to enter marital life on this faculty out of Ramakrishna Mission.[12] 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. His home in Mysore is called Udayaravi. His son Poornachandra Tejaswi was a polymath, contributing significantly to Kannada literature, photography, calligraphy, digital imaging, social movements, and agriculture.

Kuvempu began his academic career as a lecturer of Kannada language at the Maharaja's College in Mysore in 1929. He worked as an assistant professor in the Central college, Bengaluru from 1936. He re-joined Maharaja's college in Mysore in 1946 as a professor. He went on to become the principal of the Maharaja's college in 1955. In 1956 he was selected as the Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University where he served till retirement in 1960. He was the first graduate from Mysore University to rise to that position.[13]

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

• Kaanuru Heggaditi/ಕಾನೂರು ಹೆಗ್ಗಡಿತಿ (1926) • Malegalalli Madumagalu/ಮಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮದುಮಗಳು (1967)[14]

• 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)

• Nenapina Doniyali/ನೆನಪಿನ ದೇೂಣಿಯಲಿ (1980)

• Malenaadina Chittragalu / ಮಲೆನಾಡಿನ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು (1933)

• Manujamatha Viswapatha • Kavya Vihara • Mantramangalya

• Swami Vivekananda (1932) • Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1934)

• Guruvinodane Devaredege • Janapriya Valmiki Ramayana

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

• 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)

• Kanooru Heggadithi (directed by Girish Karnad).

• Malegalalli Madumagalu (directed by Basavalingaiah)

The gradually rising hill south of the house is named Kavishaila, Kuvempu's mortal remains were placed at Kavishaila.

• Illustration — Kuvempu on a 2017 stamp of India • Annana Nenapu, Poornachandra Tejaswi • Yugada Kavi, K.C. Shiva Reddy • Kuvempu, Pradhan Gurudatta • Magalu Kanda Kuvempu, Tharini Chidananda,

The Kuvempu University in Shimoga, Karnataka was established in 1987.[25] The Vishwamanava Express[26] was named in honour of Kuvempu's idea of "Vishwa Manava" ("Universal Man").[27] India Post honoured Kuvempu by releasing a postage stamp in 1997[28] and 2017. Shivamogga Airport is named after him.

Kuvempu is recorded as having received Jnanpith Award, Sahitya Akademi Award in Kannada and Padma Bhushan.

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

• Illustration — Kuvempu's memorial in Kavishaila, Kuppali 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.[21] 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.[22][23] The entire museum has been ransacked. The surveillance cameras there have also been damaged. The Jnanapith award kept there has remained intact.

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