Poornachandra Tejaswi
Encyclopedia
Kuppali Puttappa Poornachandra Tejaswi (Kannada: ಕುಪ್ಪಳಿ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ ಪೂರ್ಣಚಂದ್ರ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ) (Sep 8, 1938 - Apr 5, 2007) was a prominent Kannada writer and novelist who has made a great impession in "Navya" period of Kannada literature
and inaugurated the bandaya or "protest literature" with his short-story collection Abachoorina Post Offisu.
At early stages of his writing career, Tejaswi wrote poems but later concentrated on short stories
, novels and essays. Poornachandra Tejaswi has a distinguished style of writing which has heralded a new era in Kannada literature
.
of Karnataka
. Although he was the son of "Rashtrakavi" Kuvempu
, he came out of his father's shadow and established his own image at an early age. Tejaswi received Rajyotsava Award for his first short story "Linga Banda", a look at the rainy western ghats
from the eye of a young boy. After completion of his education from Maharaja college
of Mysore, due to his interests in nature and farming, he moved to Mudigere
taluk of Chikmagalur District
after buying a coffee estate. Apart from literature he was actively involved in painting
, photography
and philosophy
.
, novels, Travel literature
, plays
and science fiction literature
. Nature
and incidents related to nature enjoy major role in most of his works. Carvalho is one such novel where the author himself participates in an adventure of discovering an flying lizard in the dense forests of Western ghats
. Even after twenty six years of its publication (published in 1980) it stays in top 10 list of Kannada books sold every week. Tejaswi has translated a number of English
books to Kannada enriching the depth of Kannada literature
.
at his farm house Niruttara, Mudigere
in Chikmagalur district
of Karnataka
state, on April 5, 2007 approximately at 2.00 p.m. He was 69 at the time of death.
Kannada literature
Kannada literature is the corpus of written forms of the Kannada language, a member of the Dravidian family spoken mainly in the Indian state of Karnataka and written in the Kannada script....
and inaugurated the bandaya or "protest literature" with his short-story collection Abachoorina Post Offisu.
At early stages of his writing career, Tejaswi wrote poems but later concentrated on short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
, novels and essays. Poornachandra Tejaswi has a distinguished style of writing which has heralded a new era in Kannada literature
Kannada literature
Kannada literature is the corpus of written forms of the Kannada language, a member of the Dravidian family spoken mainly in the Indian state of Karnataka and written in the Kannada script....
.
Early life
Tejaswi was born on September 8, 1938 in Kuppali in Shimoga districtShimoga District
Shimoga District is a district in the Karnataka state of India. A major part of Shimoga District lies in the Malnad region of the Western Ghats, a hilly area known for its green forests, plentiful rainfall, and as the source of many of the area's rivers. Shimoga City is the administrative centre...
of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. Although he was the son of "Rashtrakavi" Kuvempu
Kuvempu
Kuppali Venkatappagowda 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 came out of his father's shadow and established his own image at an early age. Tejaswi received Rajyotsava Award for his first short story "Linga Banda", a look at the rainy western ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
from the eye of a young boy. After completion of his education from Maharaja college
Maharaja College of Mysore
-History & Evolution:It was one of the constituent colleges of Madras University and transferred to Mysore University in 1916. It is one of the oldest colleges of South India. It is the first college for higher studies built by an Indian king at the time of British rule. Former President of India...
of Mysore, due to his interests in nature and farming, he moved to Mudigere
Mudigere
Mudigere is a panchayat town in Chikmagalur district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is 35 km from the district headquarters. Several pilgrimage sites such as Dharmasthala , Horanadu, Kalasa, Sringeri are near to the town...
taluk of Chikmagalur District
Chikmagalur District
Chikkamagaluru is a district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Chikkamagaluru is where coffee was first cultivated in India. The mountains here which are a part of the Western Ghats are the source of rivers like Tunga and Bhadra. Chikkamagaluru district also contains Mullayanagiri; which is the...
after buying a coffee estate. Apart from literature he was actively involved in painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
.
Literary works
Tejaswi has let his pen run in almost all forms of literature including poems, short storiesShort story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
, novels, Travel literature
Travel literature
Travel literature is travel writing of literary value. Travel literature typically records the experiences of an author touring a place for the pleasure of travel. An individual work is sometimes called a travelogue or itinerary. Travel literature may be cross-cultural or transnational in focus, or...
, plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
and science fiction literature
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. Nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
and incidents related to nature enjoy major role in most of his works. Carvalho is one such novel where the author himself participates in an adventure of discovering an flying lizard in the dense forests of Western ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
. Even after twenty six years of its publication (published in 1980) it stays in top 10 list of Kannada books sold every week. Tejaswi has translated a number of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
books to Kannada enriching the depth of Kannada literature
Kannada literature
Kannada literature is the corpus of written forms of the Kannada language, a member of the Dravidian family spoken mainly in the Indian state of Karnataka and written in the Kannada script....
.
Further reading
- PoornaChandra Tejaswi, Annana Nenapu, although not supposed to be an autobiography, Tejaswi extensively narrates about his childhood and early life.
- ನನ್ನ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ (Nanna Tejaswi) is a book written by Poornachandra Tejaswi's wife, which gives a comprehensive insight to Tejaswi's life & life style
Awards
- Sahitya Academy award in 1987
- Kannada Sahitya AcademyKannada Sahitya ParishatKannada Saahithya Parishath is an Indian non-profit organisation that promotes the Kannada language. Its headquarters are in the city of Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka, India. It strives to promote Kannada through publishing books, organising literary seminars and promoting research projects...
award in 1987 - Pampa Award in 2001
- Rajyotsava Award
Novels
- Pakakranthi
- Mayaloka: 1
- Chidambara Rahasya
- Karvalho
- Jugari Cross
- Millennium series (volume 1 to volume 16)
- Abachurina Post Office
- Nighooda Manushyaru
Short story collections
- Parisarada Kate
- Huliyoorina Sarahaddu
- Abachoorina Post Office
- Tabarana Kate
- Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu
- Kadina Kategalu (Volume1 to Volume4)
- Linga banda
- Panjrolliya Pischachia Savaalu
- Gudugu Heliddenu
- Urvashi
- Gandhiji Deseinda
- Swaroopa
- Nigoodha Manushyaru
- MaayaMruga
- Rahasya Vishwa
Translated Works
- ರುದ್ರ ಪ್ರಯಾಗದ ಭಯಂಕರ ನರ ಭಕ್ಷಕ (Rudraprayagada Bhayanaka Narabakshaka) translated from 'The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag: OUP/UK 1948 - Jim Corbett'
- 'The Long Walk' translated as ಮಹಾ ಪಲಾಯನ (maha palayana)
- Papillon 1 & 2
- ಕಾಡಿನ ಕಥೆಗಳು (Kaadina Kathegalu),Kenneth Anderson's huntings of Man eater animals - in 4 volumes.
Science and nature writings
- Missing Link
- Hakki Pukka
- kannada nadina Hakkigalu: PartI-Minchulli and PartII-Hejjemudada hadi
- Vismaya (Volume1 to Volume3)
- Flying Saucers (Volume1 to Volume2)
- Sahaja Krushi
- Nadeyuva kaddi haaruva yele
- Kadina kathegalu volume1 to volume4
- Aeroplane Chitte Mattu Itara Kathegalu
- At the end of the millennium Tejaswi has undertaken a gigantic task of bringing some of the greatest works of twentieth century, written in other world languages to Kannada. The collection of publishing were called the Millennium series. It is in volume1 to volume16
Death
Poornachandra Tejaswi died of cardiac arrestCardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
at his farm house Niruttara, Mudigere
Mudigere
Mudigere is a panchayat town in Chikmagalur district in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is 35 km from the district headquarters. Several pilgrimage sites such as Dharmasthala , Horanadu, Kalasa, Sringeri are near to the town...
in Chikmagalur district
Chikmagalur District
Chikkamagaluru is a district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Chikkamagaluru is where coffee was first cultivated in India. The mountains here which are a part of the Western Ghats are the source of rivers like Tunga and Bhadra. Chikkamagaluru district also contains Mullayanagiri; which is the...
of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
state, on April 5, 2007 approximately at 2.00 p.m. He was 69 at the time of death.
Trivia
- Tejaswi heralded a new wave, when he (with like-minded friends) compiled KuvempuKuvempuKuppali Venkatappagowda 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...
's Sri Ramayana DarshanamSri Ramayana DarshanamSri Ramayana Darshanam is the most famous work and the magnum opus by Kuvempu in Kannada based on the Hindu epic Ramayana. It earned him many distinctions including the Sahitya Akademi and the Jnanapeeth award in 1967....
in Kuvempu's handwriting. Government of KarnatakaGovernment of KarnatakaThe Government of Karnataka is a democratically elected body with the Governor as the constitutional head. The Governor who is appointed for a period of five years appoints the Chief Minister and his council of ministers...
too aided the effort with grants, but the cost of the book was high and ended up with mediocre success.
- A controversy started in early 2004 demanding inducting Madhwacharya's name in Jaya Bharata Jananiya TanujateJaya Bharata Jananiya TanujateJaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate is a Kannada poem, which was composed by the Indian Kannadiga poet Kuvempu. The poem was officially declared the state anthem of the Indian state of Karnataka on January 6, 2004....
, written by KuvempuKuvempuKuppali Venkatappagowda 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...
. Tejaswi, as son of Kuvempu and holder of copyrights of Kuvempu's articles strongly criticized any attempts to change the poem.
- While some intellectuals condemned the daubing incident of Belgaum Mayor Vijay More's face with black paint on Nov 11 2007, Tejaswi rhetorically asked if Mr. More deserved Fair & Lovely instead.
- Tejaswi was renowned for his interests in wild-life. He had a great appetite and was known for his fondness for good-food.