Kuvempu

Early life and education Kuvempu was born in Hirekodige, a village in Koppa taluk of 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. 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. 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 Wesleyan High School. Thereafter, he pursued college studies at the Maharaja College of Mysore and graduated in 1929, majoring in Kannada. Family Kuvempu married Hemavathi on 30 April 1937. He was forced into enter marital life on this faculty out of Ramakrishna Mission. Kuvempu had two sons, Poornachandra Tejaswi and Kokilodaya Chaitra, and two daughters, Indukala and Tharini. Tharini is married to K.Chidananda Gowda the former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University. == Writings ==

Epic • Sri Ramayana Darshanam/ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಾಯಣ ದರ್ಶನಂ - Volume-01 (1949), Volume-02 (1957) • Chitrangada/ಚಿತ್ರಾಂಗದಾ Novels • Kaanuru Heggaditi/ಕಾನೂರು ಹೆಗ್ಗಡಿತಿ (1926) • Malegalalli Madumagalu/ಮಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮದುಮಗಳು (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 • 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 • 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). Drama • Malegalalli Madumagalu (directed by Basavalingaiah) == Awards and honours==

• Karnataka Ratna (1992) • Jnanpith Award (1967) • Rashtrakavi ("National Poet") (1964) • Sahitya Akademi Award (1955) • 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. == Memorials ==

Kavimane — Kuvempu Memorial 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. 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. 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. == Biographies on Kuvempu ==

• 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 1987. The Vishwamanava Express was named in honour of Kuvempu's idea of "Vishwa Manava" ("Universal Man"). India Post honoured Kuvempu by releasing a postage stamp in 1997 and 2017. Shivamogga Airport is named after him. == See also ==