“Stories, streets, and poems of Basavanagudi” Walking through the lanes, one poet at a time

“We could grow up in the city where the history was made and still it all.”

- Johnathan Lethem

Photo reference: Aishwarya. V

The first thing that comes to mind for any South Bangalorean when you say Basavanagudi is the famous Bull Temple, with its history stretching back centuries. Perched on the hill, the temple has an interesting story to tell- the story of history, culture, and the livelihoods that still thrive around it.

But another little piece of Basavanagudi’s heritage sits quietly in the park below, often overlooked by passersby. It’s an interesting structure, with carvings of some of Basavanagudi’s literary luminaries on all sides. And here’s the surprising part- it’s a community water tank.

I love how Bengaluru’s history doesn’t always announce itself but quietly becomes part of our everyday surroundings. We walk past it, live alongside it, and perhaps never stop to wonder why it is there or what stories it carries.

Photo reference: Aishwarya. V

Literature lives beyond the streets.

Walk a little further through Basavanagudi and another layer of its history begins to reveal itself. As one of Bengaluru’s oldest neighborhoods, it is deeply rooted in the city’s medieval and modern history. While its landmarks have changed over the years, its streets and cultural life have remained remarkably strong. Beyond the temples, markets, and old residences, Basavanagudi has also been home to some of Kannada literature’s most celebrated voices, including several Jnanpith awardees and literary giants.

Names such as D. V. Gundappa (DVG), Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, K. S. Narasimha Swamy, K. S. Nissar Ahmed, and Shatavadhani Dr. R. Ganesh are all part of this literary story.

As you walk through the streets, it is fascinating to think these were not just names in books. They lived here, met here, wrote here, and were part of Basavanagudi's everyday rhythm.

Photo reference: Aishwarya. V

A neighborhood of poets

One of the most celebrated names associated with Basavanagudi is D. V. Gundappa, or DVG. A philosopher, journalist, editor, poet, statesman, and freedom fighter, he is best remembered for his magnum opus, Mankutimmana Kagga, a collection of philosophical verses often described as the Bhagavad Gita in Kannada.

What makes DVG’s writing special is the way it brings together philosophical thought and everyday wisdom in remarkably simple language. Interestingly, he failed Kannada as a schoolboy. Yet his deep love and respect for the language eventually made him one of its most celebrated writers.

Here is a verse from Mankutimmana Kagga:

Dharisu lokada bharava paramarthavannu bidade
Hodaru kare barallade Manku Timma

(Wear the garb of a mortal, abandoning not the spiritual;
When the final call sounds, depart without tears.)

A few streets away, another literary giant, Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, was making his own mark on Kannada literature. Born in Kolar, Masti joined the government service before becoming one of Karnataka’s most respected writers.

He wrote extensively in Kannada, producing novels, short stories, essays and poetry. In 1983, he became the fourth Kannada writer to receive the Jnanpith Award for his historical novel Chikavira Rajendra. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV also awarded him the title Rajasevasakta.

Masti shared a close friendship with DVG, and the two were often spotted at neighborhood eateries, discussing literature, current affairs, and life. These little stories make literary history feel alive; you can almost imagine two writers sitting over a cup of coffee, talking about the world around them.

Then there was K. S. Nissar Ahmed, a geologist by profession and a poet by calling. His writing celebrated language, nature, and everyday life, reflecting the literary movements of the Navodaya and Navya periods. His witty satire Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu (Sheep, Sir, Sheep) remains one of his best-known works.

One of his poems begins:

Gandhi Bazaar mornings
Have not even a passing familiarity
With common morning traditions—
Neither cock-crow…

Walking through Basavanagudi has its own beauty. The names, poems and stories are not confined to books or memorials. They exist alongside the temples, parks, markets, homes and streets we continue to walk through. You only have to know where to look.

FAQs

1. What is Basavanagudi famous for?

Ans: Basavanagudi is famous for the bull temple, bugle rock, and is home to some of the most eminent Kannada poets.

2. Who was DV Gundappa?

Ans: DV Gundappa was a poet, philosopher, journalist, and public intellectual.

3. For which book did Masti Venkatesha Iyengar get the Jnanpith Award?

Ans: Masti Venkatesha Iyengar received the Jnanpith Award in 1983 for his historical novel Chikkaveera Rajendra.

4. What was Nisar Ahmed known for?

Ans: K. S. Nisar Ahmed was a celebrated Indian poet and writer known for his lyrical contributions to Kannada literature.

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