Dr bendre biography in kannada trees

MODERN KANNADAPOETRY
(A Few Specimens)

Introductory Note by Prof. V. SITARAMIAH

Towards the end of August , a Symposium on ‘Modern South Indian Poetry’ was held at the Indian Institute of Culture, Bangalore. All the Southern Languages were represented: the Telugu by Prof. Sampath Raghavachar from Anantapur; the Tamil by Sri Tiruloka Sitharam from Tiruchi; the Kannada by Sri V. Sitaramiah, Bangalore; and the Malayalam by MahakaviSankara Kurup from Ernakulam. All except the Mahakavi presented the poetry personally. He could not be present; but the scripts he had sent were read by a few Malayalam friends locally. Sri Masti Venkatesa Iyengar presided over the Symposium.

A feature of the function was the reading of the poems first in the original tongue and then, immediately after, in translation. The idea was to let the listeners hear the lilt and cadence of the poems in the sister languages before they heard the rendering in a foreign tongue. The experiment evoked interest and enthusiasm.

The poems printed below are not by any means the best written by the authors but are a fair sample of their work in some one or two of their characteristic moods. The translations are kept near the original texts and have had the benefit of the authors’ revision. The poems of only two poets–of Sri M. Govind Pai and Sri. G. P. Rajaratnam–are not included, for they are hard of rendering. These poems are unique: Pai’s on ‘the Sea’ and G. P. R’s on ‘Teaching the wife cycling’ and ‘the lady, my wife’.

The following are the poets presented:

(1) ‘D.V.G.’–Sri D.V. GUNDAPPA is a well-known writer and Man of Letters whose is easily the most massive intellect on our literary scene. As poet, dramatist, critic, biographer, and student and servant of public affairs his place is among the greatest in our part of India. His preference is for the classical forms of expression. This poem is made up of a few stanzas selected from one of his poems in the ‘Nivedana’.

(2)

Indian Kannada poet

Dattātreya Rāmachandra Bēndre (31 January &#;– 26 October ), popularly known as Da Rā Bēndre, is generally considered the greatest Kannada lyric poet of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the history of Kannada literature. A pioneering poet of Kannada's Navōdaya movement and a leading figure in the linguistic renaissance of Kannada in the region of North Karnataka (then part of the Bombay Presidency), Bendre forged a new path in Kannada literature and modern Kannada poetry through his original use of desi Kannada, particularly Dharwad Kannada – the form of Kannada spoken in the North Karnataka region of Dharwad. The richness, originality, and euphony of his poetry, his preternatural feel for the Kannada language, and his charismatic personality would result in him being hailed as a Varakavi (lit. 'boon-gifted poet-seer') by the Kannada people. In a poetic journey that spanned almost 70 years (~ – ), Bendre engaged continuously in what he called Kāvyōdyōga or 'The High Yoga of Poetry'.

A multidisciplinary genius, his library is said to have held books spanning subjects, including Quantum Physics, Mathematics, and Physiology. From very early on, Bendre published his poetry as Ambikātanayadatta (lit.&#;'Datta, son of Ambika'). Often mistaken for a pseudonym or pen name (in the western sense), Bendre described Ambikatanayadatta as the "universal inner voice" within him that dictated what he, Bendre, then presented in Kannada to the world.

In , Bendre was a

The best modern writing, whether in Europe or in Asia, attains excellence only because of a unique synthesis of ancient and modern culture, of science and art. Every great writer illustrates this synthesis in his own way, either on the plane of intuition, emotion or reason. This is what Dr (Dattarteya Ramachandra Bendre) , the great kannada poet, does and he is among the best writers that the modern world has produced.

Dr , commonly known as Bendre (or Bendre Masther) is a very well known literary figure in Karnataka. He spent most of his life at Sadhakeri, a small village about five kilometeres from Dharwad in North Karnataka.  

Dr Bedre Studied in Dharwad and Pune. He worked as a school teacher in Dharwad and later was a college professor at Sholapur. He returned to Dharwad after spending sixteen years outside his home-town. He stayed in his own house  "Shreematha" at Sadhanakeri (gifted by his uncle) till his death in the year  

Dr Bendre is the recipient of "Bharatheeya Jnanapeeta award", the highest literary award in India in the year He was also awarded the "Padhma Shri" in the year Dr Bendre was known for his scholarship in many areas like geography, philosophy and mathematics. He was attached to many people, from the cobbler on the street to the wandering astrologer to the snake charmer and the fruit vendors. 

I have earlier written about Dr Bendre and his life as i understood from a  play Gangaavatarana . 

Last week, me and a few of my friends got an opportunity to visit Dr Bendre's house # 13, "Shreematha" at Sadhanakeri, Dharwad. We had heard about "Bhendre bhavana" (ಬ&#;&#;ದ&#;ರ&#; ಭವನ ), an exhibition of photographs from the life of Dr Bendre.  But we did not know that one can even visit Dr Bendre's

: Singing bird is throat of the tree

&#;Tis but a likeness of the Dream Divine

Envisaged by the Peace of Buddha when

It sat in penance on the Everest

Of Buddha&#;s Grief and glimpsed it in the cave

Of contemplation deep; the only blossom

That ever the tree of joy bore on its blossom.

Lines on Tagore&#;

With war of words we are weary:

Our cheerless life was dreary.

Master! You gave us light

And songs of deep delight.

Such grand, prophetic utterances

And song of deep deliverance

Are God&#;s gift to you.

Your peers there are but few.