View source for Kuvempu

{{Short description|Indian poet (1904–1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/do]] -->
| name             = Kuvempu
| image            = Kuvempu.jpg
| caption          = Kuvempu in the 1960s
| pseudonym        = Kuvempu
| birth_name       = Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|df=yes|1904|12|29}}
| birth_place      = Hirekodige, [[Koppa, India|Koppa]], [[Chikmagalur]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]] (now in [[Karnataka]])<!--PLEASE DO NOT ADD KUPPALLI HERE--><ref>{{cite web|title=Who is Kupali Venkatappa Puttappa? Know all about Indian novelist honoured by Google through doodle|date=29 December 2017|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/google-doodle-honours-kuppalli-venkatappa-puttappa-know-more-about-indian-novelist/993654/|work=The Financial Express|access-date=29 December 2017}}</ref>
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1994|11|11|1904|12|29}}
| death_place      = [[Mysore]], [[Karnataka]], India
| occupation       = Poet, novelist, playwright, academic
| language         = [[Kannada]]
| period           = 
| genre            = Fiction, drama
| subject          = 
| movement         = [[Modern Kannada literature#Navodaya|Navodaya]]
| spouse           = {{marriage|Hemavathi|1937|1994}}
| children         = 4, including [[Poornachandra Tejaswi]]
| awards           = [[Karnataka Ratna]] (1992)<br>[[Padma Vibhushan]] (1988)<br>[[Jnanapith Award]] (1967)<br>[[Padma Bhushan]] (1958)
Sahitya Akademi Award (1955)<ref>{{Cite web |title=..:: Welcome to Sahitya Akademi ::.. .
|url=https://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=sahitya-akademi.gov.in}}</ref>
| signature        = 
| website          = 
}}
'''Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa''' (29 December 1904&nbsp;– 11 November 1994),<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=The Gentle Radiance of a Luminous Lamp |url=http://www.sriramakrishnamath.org/magazine/vk/2004/12-3-6.asp |publisher=Ramakrishna Math |access-date=31 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822210207/http://www.sriramakrishnamath.org/magazine/vk/2004/12-3-6.asp |archive-date=22 August 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> popularly known by his [[pen name]] '''Kuvempu'''{{IPAc-en|audio=Kuvempu_name_pronounciation.ogg}}, was an Indian poet, playwright, novelist and critic. He is widely regarded as the greatest [[Kannada]] poet of the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=December 29, 2017 |title=Google is celebrating Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa with a doodle, who was Puttappa|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/google-is-celebrating-kuppali-venkatappa-puttappa-with-a-doodle-who-was-puttappa-1118251-2017-12-29|access-date=2021-11-21|magazine=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa: Kuvempu's Kannada legacy|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/kuppali-venkatappa-puttappa-kuvempu-kannada-legacy-171229080653908.html|publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Kuvempu's 113th birth anniversary: Google doodle honours 20th century Kannada poet|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/kuvempu-s-113th-birth-anniversary-google-doodle-honours-20th-century-kannada-poet/story-IolROVZyhFdmvPOaBJOZhJ.html|work=Hindustan Times|date=29 December 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref name="bio1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He was the first Kannada writer to receive the [[Jnanpith Award]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jnanpith Awards|url=http://ekavi.org/Jnanpith.htm|publisher=Ekavi|access-date=31 October 2006}}{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Kuvempu studied at [[Mysuru]] University in the 1920s, taught there for nearly three decades and served as its vice-chancellor from 1956 to 1960. He initiated education in Kannada as the language medium. 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]] by the Government of India in 1944. He penned the Karnataka State Anthem [[Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate]].

== Biography ==

=== Early life and education ===
[[File:Kuvempu house Kuppalli.jpg|thumb|Kuvempu's ancestral house in [[Kuppali]]]]
Kuvempu was born in Hirekodige, a village in [[Koppa, India|Koppa]] taluk of [[Chikmagalur district|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.<ref name="bio1">{{cite book|last1=Rao|first1=L. S. Sheshagiri|author-link1=L. S. Sheshagiri Rao|title=Kuvempu|date=2012|publisher=Sapna Book House Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=9788128017933|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n2uGAwAAQBAJ|access-date=29 December 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=After burglary, Kuvempu museum steps up security|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/after-burglary-kuvempu-museum-steps-up-security/article7913118.ece|work=The Hindu|date=25 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="bio1"/> Early in his childhood, Kuvempu was home-schooled by an appointed teacher from [[South Canara]].{{Citation needed|date= January 2020}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-18 |title=Kuvempu |url=https://www.thankyouindianarmy.com/kuvempu/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Thank You Indian Army |language=en-US}}</ref> 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 [[Hardwick High School and College|Wesleyan High School]]. Thereafter, he pursued college studies at the [[Maharaja College of Mysore]] and graduated in 1929, majoring in [[Kannada]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-08-13|title=Kuvempu {{!}} Kuvempu's Books and Awards {{!}} Kannada Poet|url=https://www.karnataka.com/personalities/kuvempu/|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Karnataka.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Family ===

Kuvempu married Hemavathi on 30 April 1937. He was forced into enter marital life on this faculty out of Ramakrishna Mission.<ref name="Kuvempu">{{Cite web|date=2018-01-18|title=Juventus|url=https://www.thankyouindianarmy.com/kuvempu/|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Thank You Indian Army|language=en-US}}</ref> Kuvempu had two sons, [[Poornachandra Tejaswi]] and Kokilodaya Chaitra, and two daughters, Indukala and Tharini. Tharini is married to [[K. Chidananda Gowda|K.Chidananda Gowda]] the former Vice-Chancellor of [[Kuvempu University]].<ref name="Kuvempu"/> 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.<ref name="Kuvempu"/>

=== Career ===
Kuvempu began his academic career as a lecturer of Kannada language at the [[Maharaja's College, Mysore|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.<ref name=":1">{{cite web
 |last=Bharathi 
 |first=Veena
 |title=Poet, nature lover and humanist
 |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr252004/sh1.asp
 |work=Deccan Herald
 |access-date=2 September 2006
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318053230/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr252004/sh1.asp
 |archive-date=18 March 2006
}}
</ref>

== Writings ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

=== Epic ===

* [[Sri Ramayana Darshanam|Sri Ramayana Darshanam/ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಾಯಣ ದರ್ಶನಂ]] - Volume-01 (1949), Volume-02 (1957)
* Chitrangada/ಚಿತ್ರಾಂಗದಾ

=== Novels ===

* [[Kanuru Heggaditi|Kaanuru Heggaditi/ಕಾನೂರು ಹೆಗ್ಗಡಿತಿ]] (1926)
* [[Malegalalli madumagalu|Malegalalli Madumagalu/ಮಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮದುಮಗಳು]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mahitiloka.com/malegalalli-madumagalu-book-pdf-download-free/ |title = Malegalalli Madumagalu book PDF Download free|date = 5 December 2018}}</ref> (1967)

=== Plays ===

* 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]] (1947)
* Yamana solu/ಯಮನ ಸೇೂಲು
* Chandrahasa/ಚಂದ್ರಹಾಸ
* Balidaana/ಬಲಿದಾನ
* Kaaneena/ಕಾನೀನ (1974)

=== Autobiography ===

* Nenapina Doniyali/ನೆನಪಿನ ದೇೂಣಿಯಲಿ (1980)

=== Collection of stories ===
* Sanyaasi Mattu Itare Kathegalu / ಸನ್ಯಾಸಿ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರೆ ಕಥೆಗಳು (1937)
* Nanna Devaru Mattu Itare Kathegalu / ನನ್ನ ದೇವರು ಮತ್ತು ಇತರೆ ಕಥೆಗಳು (1940)

=== Essays ===
* ''Malenaadina Chittragalu'' / ಮಲೆನಾಡಿನ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳು (1933)

=== Literary criticism ===

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

=== Essay and Other ===
* ''Manujamatha Viswapatha''
* ''Kavya Vihara''
* ''Mantramangalya''

=== Biography ===

* ''Swami Vivekananda'' (1932)
* ''Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa'' (1934)

=== Translation ===

* ''Guruvinodane Devaredege''
* ''Janapriya Valmiki Ramayana''

=== Stories and poems for children ===

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

=== Poetry ===
* 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)

=== Movies ===
* ''[[Kanooru Heggadithi]]'' (directed by [[Girish Karnad]]).
{{div col end}}

=== Drama ===
* ''Malegalalli Madumagalu'' (directed by Basavalingaiah)

== Awards and honours==
* [[Karnataka Ratna]] (1992)<ref name=hbook />
* [[Padma Vibhushan]] (1988)<ref name=padma />
* [[Adikavi Pampa|Pampa Award]] (1987)<ref name=hbook />
*[[Nadoja Award]] (1995) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://kannadasahithyaparishattu.in/?p=1264 |title=K V Puttappa |lang=kn |work=Kannada Sahitya Parishat}}</ref> 
* [[Jnanpith Award]] (1967)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jnanpith.net/laureates/index.html |title=Jnanpith Laureates Official listings |publisher=[[Jnanpith]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013122739/http://jnanpith.net/laureates/index.html |archive-date=13 October 2007 }}</ref>
* Rashtrakavi ("[[National Poet]]") (1964)<ref name=hbook />
* [[Padma Bhushan]] (1958)<ref name="padma">{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2009) |url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/LST-PDAWD.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs |access-date=10 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095705/http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/LST-PDAWD.pdf |archive-date=10 May 2013 }}</ref>
* [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] (1955)<ref name="hbook">{{cite web|title=Culture p484-485|url=http://www.karunadu.gov.in/gazetteer/HandbookKarnataka2010/Chapter%20XIII%20CULTURE.pdf|work=A Handbook of Karnataka|publisher=Government of Karnataka|access-date=10 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008075154/http://www.karunadu.gov.in/gazetteer/HandbookKarnataka2010/Chapter%20XIII%20CULTURE.pdf|archive-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
* To landmark the golden jubilee of Kannada's first Jnanapeeth award, on 29 December 2017, Kuvempu's 113th birth anniversary, Google India dedicated a Google Doodle in his honor.<ref>{{cite news|title= Golden jubilee of Kannada’s first Jnanpith |newspaper=The Hindu|date=21 December 2017|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/golden-jubilee-of-kannadas-first-jnanpith/article22102942.ece|first=P M|last=Veerendra}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=A talented writer, a dedicated teacher and a passionate reformist. Celebrating Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa's contribution to culture and art with today's #GoogleDoodle|publisher=Google India |via=Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/GoogleIndia/status/946599167379386373}}</ref>

== Memorials ==

=== Kavimane&nbsp;— Kuvempu Memorial ===
[[File:Kuvempu memorial Kuppalli.jpg|thumb|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.<ref name=dh>{{cite news | title=Where the poet once lived|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/10750/where-poet-once-lived.html | newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=29 June 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news | title=Kuvempu memorial ransacked | author = ((Staff Correspondent)) |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kuvempu-memorial-ransacked/article7911988.ece | newspaper=The Hindhu|date=24 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Padma Awards, Cash Stolen From magane Memorial|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/Padma-Awards-Cash-Stolen-From-Kuvempu-Memorial/2015/11/25/article3145964.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125204213/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/Padma-Awards-Cash-Stolen-From-Kuvempu-Memorial/2015/11/25/article3145964.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 November 2015 | newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=25 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Kumar R B | first=Santosh | title=Padma awards of renowned Kannada poet Kuvempu stolen |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/padma-awards-of-renowned-kannada-poet-kuvempu-stolen | newspaper=The Indian Express | date=29 June 2009}}</ref>

The entire museum has been ransacked. The surveillance cameras there have also been damaged. The Jnanapith award kept there has remained intact.

===Kavishaila===
The gradually rising hill south of the house is named Kavishaila, Kuvempu's mortal remains were placed at Kavishaila.<ref name=dh />

== Biographies on Kuvempu ==
[[File:Kuvempu 2017 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|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,

==Commemoration==

The [[Kuvempu University]] in [[Shimoga]], [[Karnataka]] was established in 1948.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kuvempu.ac.in/php/about.php|title = About kuvempu university}}</ref> The [[Vishwamanava Express]]<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/vishwa-manava-express-hits-the-tracks/article18549736.ece Vishwa Manava Express hits the tracks]. The Hindu (23 May 2017). Retrieved 2018-11-06.</ref> was named in honour of Kuvempu's idea of "Vishwa Manava" ("Universal Man").<ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/613839/vishwamanava-express-story-behind-name.html  'Vishwamanava Express', and story behind the name]. ''Deccan Herald''. 27 May 2017</ref>

[[India Post]] honoured Kuvempu by releasing a postage stamp in 1997<ref>[http://www.indianphilatelics.com/stamps/commemorative-stamps/1996-1997/item/12110-jnanpith-award-winners-kannada-click-for-stamp-information.html Jnanpith Award Winners, Kannada (click for stamp information) ::: 1996-1997 » Commemorative Stamps » Stamps]. Indianphilatelics.com (28 March 1997). Retrieved 2018-11-06.</ref> and 2017.<ref>[http://postagestamps.gov.in/NewsPage.aspx?uid=164 Postage Stamps, Stamp issue calendar 2014, Paper postage, Commemorative and definitive stamps, Service Postage Stamps, Philately Offices, Philatelic Bureaux and counters, Mint stamps (unused stamps)]. Postage Stamps. Retrieved 6 November 2018.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Indian writers]]
* [[Kannada language]]
* [[Kannada literature]]
* [[Kannada poetry]]
* [[Rashtrakavi (disambiguation)|Rashtrakavi]] - list of poets who have borne the title.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite journal |author=Gowda, Chandan |date=12 January 2015 |title=Shadow on the glen : legendary writer Kuvempu's liberal legacy is revered in Karnataka |journal=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=74–75 |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/shadow-on-the-glen/292965 |access-date=7 January 2016}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Kuvempu}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929084210/http://wotan.liu.edu/~mggirija/home.html Project Kuvempu]
* [http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/kar/writers/kuvempu.htm Kuvempu Picture Album at Kamat's Potpourri]
* [http://shimoga.nic.in/kuvempu.htm Kuvempu Page at NIC Shimoga]

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[[Category:1904 births]]
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