TENDENCIES IN KANNADA LITERATURE

(This article was written by B M Sreekantiah.He was a renaisance man of Kannada language and literature in the begining of 20th century.This wrtings provides sufficient background of development that took place in the kannada state till 1927This article first appeared in the 'Mysore University Magazine'in 1927.
Interestengly many names mentioned here didnot hold a place in the pages of modern Kannada literary history published from many universities.Hence to read and understand the contributions of less known writers of Kannada, this article is a good start.It is also important to note that he mentions the name of Nanjanagudu Tirumalamba, who is a woman writer.-Dr.G.B.Harisha)
Like every other vernacular, Kannada also is halting between two influence, the traditional and the modern, though the modern is, on the whole, triumphing.Considering the smallness of the Kannada—speaking public, it must be admitted that there is great enthusiasm for the development of the language and its literature. Few names of outstanding merit have emerged within the last year or two, but the older writers are steadily adding to their output and a good harvest has already been gathered. The most encouraging sign in recent years has been the gracious patronage extended by His Highness the Maharaja, who has not only instituted anannual verse competition and awarded prizes to the winners in a special Durbar, but has set the healthy example of making speeches in Kannada on public occasions.
The University and the schools are throbbing with the new spirit, and inter-collegiate debates, school magazines and essays, lyrics and biographies from student-authors bear ample testimony to the increased interest in letters at the fountain-heads of culture. A fresh impetus will be given to the study of vernacular by the recent decision of the Senate to make Kannada compulsory (Mohammadans being allowed Urdu) in
the Intermediate and B. A. courses and to institute a chair of Kannada culture in the
University. The University and the education department also subsidise original work
on modern subjects and translations of Western classics, likely to appeal to or
educate the masses. Higher journalism represented by magazines like the Karnataka
Sahitya Parishat Patrike, Prabuddha Karnataka. Visvakarnataka, Jayakarnataka,
Suvasini, Makkala Pustaka carries the new out look on life to the half-educated adults and women and children at home. The atmosphere is thus saturated with ideas and the times are big with expectation.
We may proceed to note the actual work in some of the departments of
literature. The work of editing the old classics and the study of philology are going on without a break. The Karnataka Sahitya Parishat has edited Kesiraja’s Sabdamanidarpana, a grammar of the 13th century A. D. Pampa Ramayana, a jaina variant of the famous Indian epic, of the 11th century, and is now half through an edition of the Pampa Bharata, the oldest extant kavya in Kannada, of 941 A.D. dealing succinctly with the story of the Mahabharata. It is interesting to note that the learned and tireless editor, Mr. B. Venkatanaranappa, got a manuscript of the work from a
Jaina library at Arrah near Patna, which has thrown light in a number of corrupt
readings and filled up most distressing gaps. The Jaina Yuvaka Sangha of Puttur(South Canara) has brought out a sumptuous edition of Bharatesa Vaibhava, a medieval work on the first Chakravarthi of the Jainas. Mr. U. Mangesha Rao, the editor has laid the whole Karnataka country under obligation by this splendid piece of critical work. On the Dharwar side, the Vachana Sastra Sara of Rao Bahadur Mr.P.G.Halakatti, is a valuable selection of the voluminous sayings and preachings of the Virasaiva apostles and saints of the 12th century and latter periods; while Mr.Uttangi’s edition of Sarvajna Padagalu gives the largest extant collection of the
epigrams of one of the most popular and quotable of Kannada writers.
History of literature has been marked out for his own by Rao Bahadur
R.Narasimhachar, the veteran scholar and archaelogist who has revised and reprinted
his Kavicharite, Vol.I, and after a subsequent Vol. II, has now nearly finished his Vol.III, bringing down the account of Kannada literature to the present day. It is a
monumental work and will be the basis of all future investigation on the subject. The
University is publishing a hand book of Kannada in five parts: Grammar, Prosody,
Rhetoric, History of language and History of literature. It is intended for students and general readers and tries to give an authoritative and brief summary of up-to-date learning and research on the subjects dealt with.
In the field of Poetry, in addition to work in the old manner, a few writers may be
mentioned as representative of the new culture and method. Rajakavi Bhushana H.
Linga Raj Urs, whose Ramayana had captured the public by its easy style and
modern feeling, has now added to his laurels by his Yadu Nripa Vijaya, a short epic on the founding of the ruling house of Mysore by Yadu Raya in the 15th century. Mr. D. V.Gundappa, editor and publicist, has in his Vasanta Kusumanjali and Nivedana, given splendid expression to the devotional and national spirit, and hung wreaths round thenoble makers of modern India, and for the first time brought into poetry beauties of Mysore, like the Gerusoppe and the Shivanasamudram Falls and the Hoysala
temples. Mr. M. Venkatesha Iyengar has a most versatile genius and starting a new vein with his short stories (Kelavu Sanna Kathegalu) has advanced to plays (Savitri,Santa), touching old heroic themes with a new imagination and fervour, and to slender volumes of poetry, Binnaha and Aruna, of rare charm of phrase and feeling. The University has contributed its share in English geetagalu, by “Shri”, a book of translations of English lyrics, aiming at familiarising the Kannada reader with the spirit and style of Western literature. There is many a fine lyric warbled on the Mangalore sea-board by writers like Mr. P.Mangesha Rao and Mr. U. Mangesha Rao. All these departures from mechanical versifying are by English-educated men, who are experimenting in style, metre and subject and are moulded by the blended culture of East and the West.
Kavitilaka Ayya Sastry’s poetical history of the Mysore Kings should also be noted in this connection, as modern work done by a poet of the old school. Thoughwritten in old Kannada, this fine chronicle is easily intelligible and breathes the sprit of loyalty and devotion to the country’s progress.As regards drama, the theatre has suffered an irreparable loss in the recent
death of Nataka Siromani Mr. Varadachar, the gifted actor, who was not contentmerely to stick to the old plays but encouraged the modern social play. (A similar loss to the musical world was the death of the late lamented Vainika Sikhamani Mr.Seshanna). Plays by Mr. Venkatesa Iyengar have been mentioned. Mr. T.P.Kailasam’s Tollu Gatti and Ammavra Ganda are in colloquial dialect and ridicule the foibles and the fashions of the day. Pandit Sitarama Sastry’s version of Bhasa’s Pratima Nataka, Pandit Bellave Narahari Sastry’s Kabir Das, Pandit Nanjanagud Srikanta Sastry,s plays, Mr. Benegal Rama Rao’s Prahasanas, and plays like Mira Bai and Vigada Vikrama Raya displays the mingling of the old classical piety play with the new historical, national and social problem play. In this connection must be noted Mr.D. V. Gundappa’s play on Vidyaranya and Mr. Vankatesha Iyengar’s on The Battle of Talikote. A lady writer Srimati Tirumalamba, has been writing a sort of play-novelsermon type of books which are greatly appreciated.
The novel has at last succeded in freeing itself from the grip of Bankim Chander
Chatterji, who had been naturalised in Mysore by late Mr. Venkatachar. For years,
every tyro echoed Mr. Venkatachar-the very trick of his speech and plot. Then, there
was a social reform novel of Viresalingam Pantulu and its following. Mr. M.S.
Puttanna’s Madiddunno Maharaya broke the spell with the realistic domestic novel,
based on life in Mysore and rendered in very homely style. He has since followed it up with his Musuku Tegeye Mayangane (still in manuscript). Mr. Venkatesa Iyengar’s fine work in short stories has already been noted and has been honoured by a new school of imitators. Mr. V. T. Kulakarni (Galaganth) has been reviving ancient life and glory in his historical novels, the latest of which Madhava Karuna Vilasa, keeps to the high level of the rest and is inspired by the vision of a united Indian people, free from the jealousies of caste and creed and spending themselves in sacrifice for the Motherland. An inspiring and beautifully written account of the Kannada Kingdoms is given in Mr. R. H. Deshponde’s Karnataka Samrajya. Biography is represented by Mr.Singraiaha’s Life of Chamarajendra of Mysore and of Gokhale and Vidyaranya, andthe “grand old man”, Mr. Venkatakrishaniah’s Booker T. Washington, The aged andveteran scholar-patriot Mr. C. Vasudevaiya has after a long silence since his Aryakirthi
and Sivaji again spoken out in his Bhishma Charite. His eloquent and rhythmical periods are the delight of every scholar.
Criticism and civics are still to be cultivated, but a good beginning has been
made in Mr. Ramanuja Iyengar’ s Kavi Samaya, Mr. Venkatesha Iyengar’s Vimarse
and Mr. D.V. Gundappa’s Rajya Vyavahara Sastra.
Among noteworthy translations should be mentioned the Kannada version of Tulsidas’s immortal Ramayana by Mr. D. K. Bharadwaj. Mr. V. B. Alur’s translation of Tilak’s Gita Rahasya is older, but is an invaluable addition to serious literature in Kannada.
It will be clear from this short review that Kannada literature is shaking itself free from the domination of old ideas and forms and is blossoming vigorously in the hands of a young, educated and patriotic band of writers, novelists, poets and publicists; and,passing the stage of imitation and translation, is striking out in all directions,responding to inspirations local as well as all-Indian, present as well as past. There is an outburst of activity that is full of promise for the future and gladdening to the heart of every lover of Kannada.
[Mysore University Magazine, Vol. XI, July 1927]