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Classic Poetry Series
Kuvempu
- poems -
Publication Date:
2012
Publisher:
Poemhunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive
Kuvempu(29 December 1894 - 11 November 1994)
Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa, widely known by the pen name Kuvempu or

by the abbreviation K. V. Puttappa, was a Kannada writer and poet, widely
regarded as the greatest poet of 20th century Kannada literature. He is the first
among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada. Puttappa wrote all his
literary works using the pen name Kuvempu. He is the second among Kannada
poets to be revered as Rashtrakavi (after M. Govinda Pai). His work Sri
Ramayana Darshanam, the rewriting of the great ancient Indian epic Ramayana
in modern Kannada, is regarded as revival of the era of Mahakavya (Epic poetry)
in a contemporary form and charm. He is immortalised by some of his phrases,
and in particular for his contribution to Universal Humanism or in his own words
Vishwa maanavataa Vaada. He was conferred Padma Bhushan by Government of
India. He has penned the Karnataka State anthem Jaya Bharata Jananiya
Tanujate.
 Early Life And Education
Kuvempu was born in Hirekodige, Koppa taluk, of Chikmagalur district to a native

Kannada family. His father Venkatappa Gowda of Kuppalli and mother
Seethamma of Hirekodige a near by village. He was brought up in a place in the
lush Malenadu region of Tirthahalli, called Kuppali, of Shivamogga district. His
education began at his home by an appointed teacher from Dakshina Kannada.
He joined Anglo Vernacular school in Tirthahalli to continue his middle school
education. He lost his father Venkatappa Gowda at the early age of 12 due to ill
health. Kuvempu finished his lower and secondary education in Kannada and
English in Theerthahalli. He moved to Mysore for further education and
completed his high school from the Wesleyan high school. He pursued his college
studies in from Maharaja College of Mysore and graduated in 1929 majoring in
Kannada. He married Hemavathi on 30 April 1937.
Later Life
He had two sons and two daughters, K P Poornachandra Tejaswi, Kokilodaya

Chaitra, Indukala and Tharini. Tharini is married to K. Chidananda Gowda, the
former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University. He responded poetically to even
mundane events. When he got a car, he is quoted to have said,
"Chakracharanake swagatha!" - Welcome to wheel footed! He named his house
as "Udayaravi", "Rising Sun", called the farmer "uluva Yogi" the "tilling Yogi", and
called for egalatarian society in his message "Sarvarige samapaalu, sarvarige
samabaalu" "Equal share for all, Equal life for all". His "Raso Vai Saha" is a
www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 1

famous work of "kavya mimamsa", the "Principles of literary criticism", in the
Kannada thought of twentieth century. He is credited for giving Kannada
hundreds of new words, phrases and terminologies with distinctly precise ideas;
literary, social, philosophical and spiritual. This led to common people asking him
to suggest a name for their newborns, for decades, through postal
correspondece, which he obliged!
Career
Kuvempu began his academic career as a lecturer of Kannada language at

Maharaja College of Mysore in 1929. He served as an assistant professor in
central college of Bangalore from 1936. He rejoined Maharaja college of Mysore
in 1946 as a professor. He went on to become a principal of Maharaja college in
1955. Soon in 1956 he was elected 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.
Works and Message
Kuvempu started his literary work in English first, with a collection of poetry
called Beginner's Muse, and later switched to Kannada.
He spearheaded Kannada as a medium for education, emphasizing the theme of

"Education in Mother tongues". To cater to the needs of Kannada research, he
founded the Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe (The Institute of Kannada Studies) in
Mysore University, which has since been renamed after him as Kuvempu Institute
of Kannada Studies. As Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University, he pioneered the
study of Basic Sciences and Languages. He also championed the Publishing of
knowledge for laymen, started by G. Hanumanta Rao.
Kuvempu was more than a writer, and the way he lived his life was in itself a
great message. He was against casteism, meaningless practices and rituals.
Kuvempu's writings also reflect his resentment against the caste system
according to which the "Shoodra Tapaswi" (1946) shudras were unfit to attain
knowledge. Kuvempu (from the Vokkaliga community) also gives a different
perspective to the characters in the Ramayana unlike the portrayal of characters
by Valmiki in his Sri Ramayana Darshanam which won him Jnanpith Award. This
work is the complete Ramayana in Kannada. It underscores his vision of
sarvodaya (Upliftment of One & All). Rama of his Ramayana personifies this
when he tests himself along with his wife Seeta, by jumping into the fire.

O nanna chetana, Agu nee aniketana (? ???? ????, ??? ?? ??????? ) which can be
translated as "Be unhoused o my soul, only the infinite is your goal" is a very
popular note by Kuvempu on Universal Humanism.
His speech during the convocation ceremony of Bangalore University has been
published in the book, vichaarakranthige aahwaana. It calls for a re-assessment
of developmental policies. Though it was delivered in 1974, the message is still
considered relevant.
In the year 1987, a new university was started in Shimoga district, Karnataka in
the name of Kuvempu. It is located in Jnana Sahyadri campus, 28 km from
Shimoga.
His son Poornachandra Tejaswi was a polymath, contributing significantly to

Literature, Photography, Calligraphy, Digital Imaging, Social Movements, and
Agriculture.
 Awards 
Jnanpith Award - 1967

Padma Bhushan - 1958
Sahitya Akademi Award - 1955
National Poet - 1964
Pampa Award - 1987
Padma Vibhushan- 1988
Karnataka Ratna - 1992

Doni Sagali
Kuvempu

Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate
Kuvempu

Muduvanu Ravi
Kuvempu

Oh Mother, Blessed I Am, To Be Born To You
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
Of the criticisms about your lacking, I am aware
The ridicules of being backward, you had to bear
Those adorned by gold, I shun
I regard you as the glorious one
In the luster of your eyes I open my eyes
With joy I'll grow in your holy land
Thy glory I'll pen; thy name I'll call
For the fortune of your service, I reject all
Kuvempu

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Classic Poetry Series

Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa, widely known by the pen name Kuvempu or

<b> Early Life And Education</b>

Kuvempu was born in Hirekodige, Koppa taluk, of Chikmagalur district to a native

He had two sons and two daughters, K P Poornachandra Tejaswi, Kokilodaya

www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 1

Kuvempu began his academic career as a lecturer of Kannada language at

<b>Works and Message</b>

He spearheaded Kannada as a medium for education, emphasizing the theme of

www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 2

His son Poornachandra Tejaswi was a polymath, contributing significantly to

<b> Awards </b>

Jnanpith Award - 1967

www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 3

www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 4

www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 5

www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 6

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

www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 7

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