Interesting Facts About The Great Kannada Litterateur D V Gundappa

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In terms life experience, there are very few who match the wisdom of D V Gundappa, who for seven decades contributed in colossal proportions to the Kannada literature, the magnum opus being his Mankutimmana Kagga. His name on records was Devanahalli Venkataramanaiah Gundappa (DVG) Born on 17 March 1887 he lived up to 7 October 1975 and donned different roles of a writer, poet and philosopher in his lifetime.

1. DVG could not be categorised as a Kannada writer. He was many roles into one. He was a poet, journalist, purohita who conducted the widow remarriage ceremony, and a freedom fighter.

2. He was born in Mulbagal, Kolar district in 1887. He academic qualification did not extend beyond matriculation due to poor living conditions. His sheer interest in Kannada, English as well as Sanskrit gave him proficiency in those languages

3. His other works, Antahpura Geethagalu and Jivana Soundarya Mattu Sahitya are only for the worldly wise and not otherwise.

4. He was extremely well connected. His circle of friends had distinguished names like Sir M Visweswarayya, Sir M Puttanna Chetty, Dr. B R Ambedkar, M S Subbulakshmi and C Rajagopalachari. He was closely associated with four diwans of Mysore State

5. Before he wrote the Mankutimmanna Kagga, he had come up with another poignant work namely Marula Muniyana Kagga, which has more than 800 poems.

6. The evergreen work of his, Mankutimmana Kagga published in 1943 resembles the famous verses of Sarvajna.

7. One of his most important works was Vasantha Kusumanjali.

8. D V Gundappa launched a newspaper titled The Karnataka in 19123. He did not gather funds from his followers and well-wishers to run it. But it was closed down in 1921. True to the writers' nature, he did not take any funds from many of his followers and well-wishers.

9. He served in prestigious positions in Mysore University Senate, Kannada Sahitya Parishat, and Mysore Legislative Council. His work, Shrimad Bhagavadgita Tatparya Athava Jivanadharmayoga earned him the Sahitya Akademi Award.

10. In 1945, he founded the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA). This organization used to arrange weekly lectures, group discussions, and debates.

11. He was awarded Padma Bhushana in 1974 for his unique contribution to the Kannda literature. We can still see the statue of DVG in Bugle Rock Park Basavangudi. He touched the hearts and emotions of readers through his works that brimmed over with wisdom of life and a worldview that surpassed his contemporaries.