DR Devanahalli Venkataramanayya Gundappa
D.V.Gundappa (DVG), born in 1889, was a matriculate who started working as a journalist at the age of 16. Two years later, he was publishing his own newspaper. He went on to become a titan of Kannada literature, writing on subjects that covered philosophy and literature, sociology and history
His Mankuthimmana Kagga is considered a Noble 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.
Mankuthimmana Kagga is one of the most famous and popular major literary works in Kannada, composed by Dr. D. V. Gundappa, and published in 1943. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece among the Kannada speaking population in southern India.
One of the popular kagga “Hullagu bettadadi”…..
Hullagu Bettadadi, manege malligeyagu
Kallagu kashtagala, maleya vidhi suriye
bella sakkareyagu dheena durbalaringe
ellarolagondagu mankuthimma.
An English Translation as:
Be a (gentle) blade of grass at the foot of the mountain; and jasmine flower at home
Be (strong) like a rock when the fate pours (torrential) rain of difficulties on you
Be sweet like sugar and jaggery to the poor and weak
Be one with all, Mankutimma.
DVG died in 1975, Amongst his few possessions was a steel trunk. When family members opened it, they were shocked to see a stack of cheques of the face value of Rs 1200, Rs 900, Rs 1400… amounts that would have added up to the equivalent of several lakhs in 1975.
It is our greatest duty in spreading DVG’s works. We started celebrating DVG’s birthday since 2006 by conducting various events.
DVG and SSS:
D.V.Gundappa was one of the greatest writer, philosopher, journalist and a great human being as described by those who have seen him and as described in his biographies. 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. SSS realized the worth and need of DVG’s principles in today’s status of our society. It started celebrating his birthday every year starting from the year 2006. SSS recently published the book “Maralu Muniyana Kaggakke thatparya” (A handbook on DVG’s Maralu Muniyana Kagga) by Late Sri D. R. Venkataramanan. It is celebrated on 17th Day of March in which a large number of his fans would gather to discuss and implement some of his principles. We found so many dignified officials from different Government offices, Professors, Vice chancellors, IAS officers, literary giants, people from the fields of music, theatre and movie industry among his fan club.
