“An age of Progression, Revival and Recognition for Kannada Poetry” by Aishwarya Lakshmi

 Renowned Kannada Poets of the 21st Century

   

 “Naanu aliwe, Neenu aliwe,

Namma elubugala mele Mooduvudu –

Mooduvudu Navabharatda leele”

 (I will pass. So will you.

But on our bones will arise the great tale of a new India)

 – Rastrakavi Kuvempu

 

The nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries was an era of modernization, revival, and critical recognition for Kannada literature. The arrival of Christian missionaries, the introduction of the printing press, and a publishing house fuelled the propagation of Kannada and its reach to the local people. The modern poets of the early 20^th century were highly influenced by Western ideas and notions. However, the Indian nationalist movements, awareness of social issues, and political turbulence shaped the writing of the Kannada poets in the later years.

The early 1920s was the Golden Era of Modern Kannada literature when the poets combined medieval vachanas, keerthanas, and local folklore and brewed a new age of poetry and songs. This Navodaya period gave birth to many famous poets and lyricists whose words still resonate in many Kannada houses to date.

B. M. Srikanthaiah  (1884-1946)

Regarded as the “Father of modern Kannada literature”, BM Srikanthaiah is known to have revitalized the Kannada language by borrowing contextual words from other languages or composing new words to identify new objects and ideas. One of the few poets to have begun a comparative study of Dravidian languages in prosody and grammar, his work has been an inspiration to many young poets who followed his way and added new dimensions to Kannada poetry.

“It appears that the crops are required.

However, harvesters are scarce.

The neck is long.

Those who can slit it are scarce”.

(Extracts from English Gītagaḻu)

His first book Olume published in 1932 is regarded as one of the greatest anthologies of Kannada literature while his other works Aswatthaaman, Honganasugalu, and Gadayuddha Sangraham have gained popularity not just in the literary circles but among common folk as well. Srikantaiah was instrumental in compiling the Kannada dictionary and establishing Kannada departments in leading colleges.

His magnum opus “Bharatheeya Kavyamimamse” is one of the most respected and revered works on poetry, linguistics, and Indian history and remains an epic to this day. Srikantaiah is responsible for coining the term ‘Rashtrapathi’ a vernacular equivalent for the ‘President’ of India — a usage that has been adopted into practice ever since! 

Kuvempu (1904-1994)

Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa, mostly fondly known as Kuvempu, is one of the greatest Kannada poets and the first among seven recipients of the Jnanpith Award for Kannada literature. A man with moral principles, Kuvempu was more than a writer and his way of life had a great message in itself. An advocate of social equality, he was against casteism, meaningless practices, and rituals, and his writings reflected his resentment against the caste system. He promoted Kannada as a medium of language and encouraged education for all.

Oh mother, Blessed I am, to be born to you

Blessed is my soul, to be nourished by your love

I don't care if you are adorned like a queen

I don't care if thou grant every wish, like Surabhi

All I know is my courtyard is filled with the fragrance

Of your sacred presence

Kuvempu created such notable works that they stay relevant even today! Anyone can resonate with his words and find inspiration from them. His magnum opus Shri Ramayana Darshanam remains an immortal work of art and literature, recreating Valmiki’s Ramayana in an unorthodox manner, giving different characters a whole new dimension through the narrative. His poetic sense named even the mundane objects creatively, and many of them are used in colloquial Kannada even today. Kuvempu was named ‘Rashtrakavi’ in 1964 and his poem Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate was adopted as Karnataka’s state anthem.

D.R.Bendre (1896-1981)

A visionary poet and playwright, Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre (or D.R.Bendre), was known for his versatility and his love for nature, Indian philosophy, and humanity. Titled Varakavi, or Gifted Poet, Bendre was the second to win the Jnanpith Award for Kannada literature. His poems, plays, and essays dealt with various aspects of rural life and the struggles of the common people. He was also a strong advocate of social justice and equality, and his works reflect these values.

Rasa is Birth

The absence of Rasa is a death

Balancing of Rasas is Life

Emotion is the root of the language

Language is the emotion taking the form

Some of his famous works "Chitrangada", "Gitanjali", and "Grahana" are known for their simplicity, beauty, and profound meaning. Recognizing his contribution to Kannada literature, he was awarded several prestigious honors like the Padma Shri in 1958, the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1965, and the Padma Vibhushan in 1977.  D.R. Bendre continues to inspire young poets, writers, and readers who seem to have been inspired by his words and works to this day.

References:

1.     Twentieth-Century Kannada Literature https://omnilogos.com/twentieth-century-kannada-literature/

2.     Word on the Streets https://www.parrottime.com/index.php?i=4&a=43

3.     Sirikanta Srikantaiah: Voice of Kannadigas https://starofmysore.com/sirikanta-srikantaiah-voice-of-kannadigas/

4.     Kuvempu: The Most Celebrated Kannada Poet And His Evergreen Writing https://www.thenewshamster.com/kuvempu-the-most-celebrated-kannada-poet-and-his-evergreen-writing/

5.     Kuvempu https://nammamysore.com/kuvempu/

6.     The Life of a Litterateur – Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre https://www.karnataka.com/personalities/dr-bendre-kannada-poet/

7.      D. R. Bendre: The Pioneer of Kannada Literature https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/d-r-bendre-the-pioneer-of-kannada-literature

FAQs

1.      Who is the father of modern Kannada literature?

A:  BM Srikanthaiah is regarded as the "Father of modern Kannada literature" for moving away from archaic Kannada forms and making it more approachable for common people. 

2.    Name the most famous poets of modern Kannada literature?

A: Kuvempu, DR Bendre, B. M. Srikanthaiah, Gopalakrishna Adiga, DV Gundappa, Masthi Venkatesh Iyengar

3.     Who coined the term ‘Rastrapathi’?

A: BM Srikanthaiah