Jnanapeetha Award Winners
from Karnataka
Compiled by:
Youth Members
Kasturi Kannada Sangha
Cleveland, Ohio
History of the Jnanapeetha Award
• Instituted in 1961, it is one of the 2 most
prestigious literary awards in India
• Awarded by the Bharatiya Jnanapith, a trust of
Sahu Jain family (publishers of Times of India)
• Until 1982: awarded for a single work by author;
since then, given for lifetime contribution
• 8 awardees in Kannada so far
– 9 in Hindi; 5 in Bengali & Malayalam; 4 in Urdu; 3 in
Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi; 2 in Assamese, Tamil, Telugu
Jnanapeetha Awards in Kannada
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1967: KuVemPu
1973: Da Raa Bendre
1977: K Shivarama Karanth
1983: Masti Venkatesha Iyengar
1990: V K Gokak
1994: U R Ananthamurthy
1998: Girish Karnad
2010: Chandrashekhara Kambaara
KuVemPu
• Full Name: Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa
• Born: December 29, 1904 (Hirekodige, Chikmagalur
district, Karnataka)
• Died: November 11, 1994 (Mysore, Karnataka)
• Education:
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Homeschooled for elementary education
Anglo Vernacular school in Tirthahalli for middle school
Finished high school at Wesleyan High School, Mysore
Graduated from Mysore University in 1929, majoring in
Kannada.
KuVemPu: Contributions
• Occupations:
– He was a writer, poet, musical composer
– Taught Kannada at the Central College in Bangalore
– Vice- Chancellor at Mysore University until he retired in 1960
• Literary Contributions:
– Novels: Kaanuru Subbamma Heggadati, Malegalalli Madumagalu
– Modern epic (Mahakavya): Shri Ramayana Darshanam
– He also wrote many plays, stories for children, collections of
poems, biographies, literary criticisms.
– Wrote Karnataka state anthem: Jai Bharatha Jananiya Thanujate
KuVemPu: Awards
• Jnanapeetha Award: for Shri
Ramayana Darshanam (1967)
• Padma Bhushan
• Sahitya Academy Award
• Rashtrakavi (national poet)
• Padma Vibhushan
• Karnataka Ratna
Da Raa Bendre
• Full Name: Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre
– Wrote under the pen name ”Ambikatanayadatta”
• Born: January 31, 1896 (Dharwad, Karnataka)
• Died: October 21, 1981 (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
• Education:
– Primary and secondary education in Dharwad
– Bachelor’s degree from Ferguson College, Pune (Poona)
– Later obtained Master of Arts
Da Raa Bendre: Contributions
• Occupations:
– Poet and writer: praised as “Varakavi” (gifted poet)
– Briefly taught at Victoria High School, Dharwad
– Advisor, All India Radio, Dharwad station
• Literary Contributions:
– Poetry collections: Uyyale, Nadaleele, Meghadoota, Aralu
Maralu, Mugilamallige, Naku Tanti, Mate Shravana Bantu,
Kuniyonu Baa
– Plays-Tirukara Pidugu, Nageya Hoge, Hucchatagalu,
Ambikatanayadatta Nataka Samputa
– Katha Sankalana (collection of stories): Nirabharanasundari
Da Raa Bendre (awards)
• Jnanapeetha Award: for
Naku Tanti (1973)
• Padma Shri
• Sahitya Academy Award
• Kelkar prize
K. Shivarama Karanth
• Born: October 10, 1902 (village of Kota, Udupi district,
Karnataka)
• Died: December 9, 1997 (Kasturba Medical College
hospital, Manipal)
• Education:
– Finished his primary schooling in the town of Kundapura
– Completed college level education at Government College,
Mangalore
– College education was interrupted by participation in India’s
independence movement (influenced by Gandhi’s principles)
K. Shivaram Karanth (Contributions)
• Occupations:
– Kannada writer and intellectual
– Social activist and environmentalist
– Yakshagana researcher and artist, film maker
• Literary Contributions:
– He wrote a total of 417 books (47 novels, 31 plays, 13
books on art and history, and many children’s books)
– Considered one of the greatest Kannada novelists
– Major works: Marali Mannige, Bettada Jeeva, Alida Mele,
Maimanagala Suliyalli, Mookajjiya Kanasugalu, Chomana
Dudi, Kudiyara Koosu
K. Shivarama Karanth (awards)
• Jnanapeetha award: for
Mookajjiya Kanasugalu (1977)
• Padma Bhushan
– He returned this in protest
against imposition of Emergency
rule by Indira Gandhi
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Sahitya Academy award
Pampa award
Swedish academy award
Tulsi Samman
Masti Venkatesha Iyengar
• Born: June 8, 1891 (Hongenahalli , Kolar district ,
Karnataka)
• Died: June 7, 1986 (close to 95th birthday; Bangalore)
• Pen names:
– Srinivasa, Masti
• Education:
– Began primary education in the village of Hongenahalli
– Continued studies in various places including Yalandoor,
Shivarapattana and Mysore.
– Graduated from Madras University in 1914 (MA in English
Literature)
Masti Venkatesha Iyengar
(Contributions)
• Occupations:
• Teacher, author
• Member of the Mysore Civil Service (retired as District
Commissioner in 1943)
• Literary Contributions:
– Wrote over 120 books in Kannada and 17 books in English
over a span of 70 years
– Epic: Shri Rama Pattabhisheka (coronation of Lord Rama)
– Novels: Chikaveera Ranjendra, Channabasava Nayaka
– Collection of stories: Kelavu Sanna Kathegalu
– Plays: Kakanakote
Masti Venkatesha Iyengar (awards)
• Jnanapeetha Award: for
Chikaveera Rajendra (1983)
• Hailed as the father (Brahma)
of Kannada short stories
• “Masti Kannadada Asti”
(Masti is Kannada’s treasure)
• “Rajkasevasakta” by the
Maharaja of Mysore,
Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV
V. K. Gokak
• Full Name: Vinayaka Krishna Gokak
• Born: August 9, 1909 (Savanur, Haveri district,
Karnataka)
• Died: April 28, 1992 (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
• Education:
– Primary and high school education in Savanur,
Karnataka
– He obtained his B.A. (1929) and M.A. (1931) at
Karnatak College, Dharwar (he later became principal
here)
V. K. Gokak (continued)
• Occupations:
• Professor of English at Oxford University
• Was head of many elite colleges and universities in India
• Literary Contributions:
– Heavily influenced by the work of Da Raa Bendre.
– Epic: Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi (possibly the longest epic
written in any language in the 20th century)
– Novel: Samarasave Jeevana
– Poetry collections: Urnanaabha, Abhyudaya,
Baaladeguladalli, Dhyava Prithvi, Samudra Geethegalu
V. K. Gokak (awards & influences)
• Jnanapeetha Award: for
Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi (1990)
• Padmashree Award (for Dhyava
Prithvi)
• Gokak agitation: Report by the
Karnataka govt. committee
headed by VK Gokak led to a
successful agitation for Kannada
language rights in schools and
administration
U. R. Ananthamurthy
• Full Name: Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy
• Born: December 21, 1932 (Melige, Tirthahalli Taluk,
Shimoga District, Karnataka)
• Education:
– Began education in a traditional Sanskrit school in
Durvasapura, continued in Thirthahalli
– Master of Arts, University of Mysore
– Doctorate from University of Birmingham (1966)
U. R. Ananthamurthy (Contributions)
• Occupations:
• Started as Professor of English, Kottayam, Kerala
• Widely traveled all over the world as visiting professor
• Kannada writer, critic and political activist
• Literary Contributions:
– Short stories: Ghata Shraddha, Endendhigu Mugiyada Kathe
– Novels: Samskaara, Bhava, Bharathi Pura, Avasthe,
– Play (Avahane), poetry collections , literary criticisms and
essays in Kannada; several pieces on literature in English
U.R.Ananthamurthy (awards)
• Jnanapeetha award: for his
contributions to Kannada
literature (1994)
• Rajyothsava Award
• Padma Bhushan
• The Hindu Literary Prize
• DSC Prize for South Asian
Literature
Girish Karnad
• Born: May 19, 1938 (Matheran, Maharashtra)
• Education:
– Initial schooling was in Sirsi, Karnataka
– BA (Math & Stats), Karnataka Arts College, Dharwad, 1958
– MA (Philosophy, Politics & Economics), Oxford Univ, 1963
• Occupations:
– Oxford Univ Press (1963-70) & Univ of Chicago (1987-88)
– Most famous as a Playwright
– Movie actor and director
Girish Karnad (Contributions)
• Literary Contributions:
– Plays: Yayati, Tughlaq, Hayavadana, Nagamandala, Agni
Mattu Male, Maa Nishaada, Bali, Tippuvina Kanasugalu,
Odakalu Bimba
• Movie Director:
– Vamsha Vriksha, Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane, Ondanondu
Kaladalli, Kaadu, Kanooru Heggadithi
• Movie Actor:
– Samskaara, Vamsha Vriksha, Nishaant, Manthan,
Anveshane
Girish Karnad (awards)
• Jnanapeetha Award: for his
contributions to Kannada
literature and theater (1998)
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
• Sahitya Academy Award
• Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan
• Kalidas Samman
• Rajyotsava Award
• 9 National Film Awards
• 3 Filmfare Awards
Chandrashekhara Kambaara
• Born:
– January 2, 1937 (Ghodageri, Belagavi district, Karnataka)
• Education:
– Initial schooling in Gokak; then at Lingaraj College, Belagavi
– PhD at Karnatak University, Dharwad (folk theater of North
Karnataka)
• Career:
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Brief stint of teaching at University of Chicago
Taught at Bangalore University for over 2 decades
Founder Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi
Poet, playwright (uses North Karnataka dialect of Kannada)
Chandrashekhara Kambaara
(Contributions)
• Poetry compilations:
– Takaraarinavaru, Saavirada Neralu, Chakori
• Plays:
– Rishyashringa, Jokumaraswamy, Sirisampige, Kaadu
Kudure, Chalesha, Jaisidanayaka, Harakeya Kuri
• Novels & stories:
– Karimaayi, Singaarevva Matthu Aramane, Shikhara Soorya
Chandrashekhara Kambaara
(awards)
• Jnanapeetha Award: for his
contributions to Kannada
literature (2010)
• Padma Shri
• Sahitya Academy Award
• Sangeet Natak Akademi
Award
• Tagore Literature Award
• National Film Award (title
song of film Kaadu Kudure)
• Kalidas Samman
• Kabir Samman
• Pampa Award
Youth Contributors
• Contributors of articles:
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Maanasa Humchadkatte
Prajwal Sharma
Amala Uli
Rohan Achar
Esha Vartak
Kshama Girish
Nayan Rao
• Editors:
– Nayan Rao
– Amala Uli