PuTiNa
Encyclopedia
Purohita Thirunarayana Narasimhachar (17 March 1905 – 23 October 1998), commonly known as PuTiNa, was a playwright and poet of the Kannada language
. Along with, Kuvempu
and D. R. Bendre
, he forms the well-known trio of Kannada Navodaya poets. He is a Sahitya Akademi
fellow and the winner of the Pampa Award given by the Government of Karnataka
in 1991.
family in the town of Melkote
in Mandya district of Karnataka
. His father was Tirunarayana Iyengar and mother was Srirangamma. Sanskrit
was an important part of his education and upbringing, as was English
, being the primary language of instruction at the time. He was also exposed to, and learned several other languages, including French
and Tamil
. This background in so many languages enabled PuTiNa to expand his intellectual horizons, and he did so, studying western literature extensively.
PuTiNa's intellect was really cultivated in his college years at Maharaja College in Mysore, where he was greatly influenced by his English professor TiNamSri, who recognized his talent for poetry; the former President of India
, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, who was then a professor at the college; and the renowned Indian philosophy professor, Hiriyanna. However, despite his proficiency in such a multitude of languages and varied intellectual background, PuTiNa was most interested in the local language of Kannada.
Apart from being a writer, PuTiNa also worked in the army of Mysore state
. He also worked in the legislature of the Government of Mysore state. He also served as a member of the Mysore University committee looking at revising the English-Kannada dictionary. He died on 23 October 1998.
and dharma
and Gokula Nirgamana which talks of the departure of Krishna
from Gokula
.
PuTiNa has also written many essays, that despite being essays, reflect his dominant poetic personality. While some of his essays portray everyday situations in general, others are more reflective and moralistic in nature.
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
. Along with, 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...
and D. R. Bendre
D. R. Bendre
Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre was amongst the most famous of Kannada poets of the Navodaya Period. Praised as varakavi, literally 'gifted poet', he was the second person among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada, the highest literary honour conferred in India...
, he forms the well-known trio of Kannada Navodaya poets. He is a Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
fellow and the winner of the Pampa Award given by the Government of Karnataka
Government of Karnataka
The 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...
in 1991.
Life and career
PuTiNa was born on 17 March 1905 into an orthodox Tamil BrahminTamil Brahmin
Tamil Brahmins are Tamil-speaking Brahmins from Tamil Nadu who have settled in other South Indian states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka...
family in the town of Melkote
Melkote
Melukote in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district, Karnataka, in southern India, is one of the sacred places in Karnataka. The place is also known as Thirunarayanapuram. It is built on rocky hills, known as Yadavagiri or Yadugiri, overlooking the Cauvery valley. Melukote is about 51 km from...
in Mandya district 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...
. His father was Tirunarayana Iyengar and mother was Srirangamma. Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
was an important part of his education and upbringing, as was 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...
, being the primary language of instruction at the time. He was also exposed to, and learned several other languages, including French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
. This background in so many languages enabled PuTiNa to expand his intellectual horizons, and he did so, studying western literature extensively.
PuTiNa's intellect was really cultivated in his college years at Maharaja College in Mysore, where he was greatly influenced by his English professor TiNamSri, who recognized his talent for poetry; the former President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, who was then a professor at the college; and the renowned Indian philosophy professor, Hiriyanna. However, despite his proficiency in such a multitude of languages and varied intellectual background, PuTiNa was most interested in the local language of Kannada.
Apart from being a writer, PuTiNa also worked in the army of Mysore state
Mysore State
The Kingdom of Mysore was one of the three largest princely states within the erstwhile British Empire of India. Upon India gaining its independence in 1947, the Maharaja of Mysore merged his realm with the Union of India...
. He also worked in the legislature of the Government of Mysore state. He also served as a member of the Mysore University committee looking at revising the English-Kannada dictionary. He died on 23 October 1998.
Literary contributions
PuTiNa was one of the writers who gave birth to the Navodaya style of Kannada literature. According to Prof. Lakshminarayana Bhat, "At a broad level, the growth of the Navodaya style of literature resembles the growth of the writings of PuTiNa". In his first collection of poems Hanathe, he conveyed profound insights into significant moments in life by using simple language and style. Many of PuTiNa's writings speak in detail about the beauty and majesty of nature, that borders on the spiritual. Some of his well known writings include Ahalye which subtly talks of the conflicts between kamaKama
Kāma is often translated from Sanskrit as sexual desire, sexual pleasure, sensual gratification, sexual fulfillment, or eros54654564+more broadly mean desire, wish, passion, longing, pleasure of the senses, the aesthetic enjoyment of life, affection, or love, without sexual connotations.-Kama in...
and dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
and Gokula Nirgamana which talks of the departure of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
from Gokula
Gokula
Gokula or Gokul Singh was a Jat chieftain of Sinsini village in Bharatpur district in Rajasthan, India. Later, he became a chieftain of Tilpat in Haryana. His father's name was Madu. Madu had four sons namely, Sindhuraj, Ola, Jhaman and Saman. The second son Ola later became famous as Gokula...
.
PuTiNa has also written many essays, that despite being essays, reflect his dominant poetic personality. While some of his essays portray everyday situations in general, others are more reflective and moralistic in nature.
Awards and recognitions
PuTiNa's many awards and recognitions include:- Central Sahithya Academy Prize for Hamsa-Damayanthi and Gitarupakas
- Honorary Doctor of Literature from Mysore University
- President of 53rd Kannada Sahithya Sammelana, 1981, Chikmagalur
- Granthaloka award for Sriharicharite, 1989
- Pampa award, 1991
- Padmasri from the Government of India, 1991
Collection of poems
- Hanate
- Mandaliru
- Sharadayaamini
- Hrudaya vihari
- Ganesha darshana
- Rasa Sarasvati
- Maley Degula
- Irula Meragu
- Haley Chiguru - Hosa Beru
Musical dramas
- Vasanta Chandana
- Seeta Kalyana
- Ahalye
- Gokula Nirgamana
- Shabari
- Doniya Binada
- Vikatakavi
- Ramapatabisheka
Collection of stories
- Ramachariya Nenapu
- Rathasaptami and other stories
- Sri Rama Pattabhiskekham
- Hamsa Damayanti