|
D.
V. Gundappa
|
Devanahalli Venkataramanaiah Gundappa (Padmabhushan Dr. D V Gundappa)
popularly known as DVG, was a
prominent Kannada
writer and a philosopher. He is renowned for Manku
Thimmana Kagga, a collection of verses.
DVG
was born in the year 1887
in Mulabagilu
taluk of Kolar
district in the Indian
state of Karnataka.
DVG completed his primary school education in Kannada
in the year 1898. He also attained basic education in English apart from
learning Sanskrit
on own interest. Later he continued his education in Mysore
from the Maharaja high school. Even-though DVG did not pass matriculation exam
(10th Standard), he had discontinued formal education after matriculation, his
essays were selected as chapters for Graduation text books and PhD thesis. He
had vast knowledge in these areas:
 | Veda,
Vedanta, BrahmaSutra, DharmaSutra |
| Sanskrit,
Kannada, and other Indian languages. |
| Political
situation of Karnataka |
| Ramayana
and Mahabharata |
| Engineering
(was assistant of Sir. M. Vishveshwaraiah, who engineered the K.R.S Dam,
which was the largest Dam in Asia at that time) |
| Freedom
fighters (Had been associated with Mahatma Gandhi and Lokamanya Tilak) |
| Western
Literature (has translated several Shakespeare plays and other Greek plays
to Kannada) |
| Islamic
literature (Umarana osage, a translation of poems of Omar Khayyam in
Kannada) |
His
Mankuthimmana Kagga is considered a Nobel prize winning material, if it had been
written in English. The greatness of this work is that --- it makes the reader
see himself through the poems, to interpret the thoughts of the poet in his own
way. The philosophy hidden in these short 4 liners is suited for any section of
the society regardless of their religion, status, qualification etc. Basically
it is for the entire humanity, such is the vastness and depth of DVG’s most of
the literary works.
Some
of DVG's most notable works include
and
many many more.
Main article: Mankuthimmana
Kagga
Dr.
D. V. G in his later years also came up with second innings for Mankuthimmana
Kagga known as Maralu Muniyana Kagga. Another famous work
of Dr. D. V. Gundappa is Srimad BhagavadGeeta Tatparya or Jeevana
Dharma Yoga which has received Kendra Sahitya Academy award.
Dr.
DVG was awarded Padmabhushan
by the Government of India in 1974. The State of Karnataka under Chief Minister
Sri Veerandra Patil honored him for his services to Kannada Literature in 1970
at Ravindra Kalkshetra, Bengaluru and awarded a purse of Rs 90,000. Dr DVG
donanted the entire award money to found the Gokhale Institute of Public Affairs
(GIPA) located in Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi, India. India
Post issued a commemorative stamp of Dr. Gundappa in 1988.[1]
In
early 2002/03, a statue was erected to honor Dr DVG in Basavanagudi, Bugle Rock
Park (behind Sri. Ganapathi Temple). Dr DVG's son late Dr BGL Swamy was a
scholar and professor, taught Botany at University of Madras. Dr DVG's 2
daughters were accomplished social-elites.