Poornachandra Tejaswi

Kuppali Puttappa Poornachandra Tejaswi (8 September 1938 – 5 April 2007[1]) was a prominent Indian writer and novelist in Kannada. He also worked as a photographer, publisher, painter, naturalist, and environmentalist. He made a great impression in the Navya ("new") period of Kannada literature and inaugurated the Bandaaya Saahitya genre of protest literature with his short-story collection Abachoorina Post Offisu. He is the son of noted Kannada poet Kuvempu.

For the Indian film composer, see Poornachandra Tejaswi (composer).

Poornachandra Tejaswi
Born(1938-09-08)8 September 1938
Kuppalli, Princely State of Mysore, British India
Died5 April 2007(2007-04-05) (aged 68)[1]
Mudigere, Karnataka, India
Pen namePoochanthe
OccupationWriter, novelist, farmer, photographer, ornithologist, painter, polymath
NationalityIndia
Period1957-2007
GenreFiction, non-fiction
Literary movementNavya, Bandaya movement
Notable worksJugari Cross, Karvalo, Chidambara Rahasya, Millennium Series
SpouseRajeshwari Tejaswi
ChildrenSusmita and Esanye
RelativesKuvempu (father)
Website
tejaswivismaya.org

At early stages of his writing career, Tejaswi wrote poems but later concentrated on short stories, novels and essays. His distinctive style of writing is credited with heralding a new era in Kannada literature.[2]

Early life

Tejaswi was born on 8 September 1938 in Kuppali in Shimoga district of Karnataka. Although he was the son of "Raashtrakavi" Kuvempu, he came out of his father's shadow and established his own image at an early age. Tejaswi received best story award in the competition held by Prajavani Kannada newspaper on the occasion of Deepavali, for his first short story "Linga Banda", a look at the rainy Western Ghats from the eye of a boy. After completion of his education from Maharaja College of Mysore, one among the top colleges in India, 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.

He was a keen learner of nature and his favourite pastime was to roam around in the forests of western ghats.

Literary works

Tejaswi has written in almost all forms of literature including poems, short stories, novels, travel literature, plays and science fiction. Nature and incidents related to nature enjoy major roles in most of his works. One of the most popular writers in Kannada, Tejaswi's works have continued to remain popular, going into multiple prints and often topping reader's charts.[3] Karvalo is one such novel where the author participates in an adventure of discovering a flying lizard in the dense forests of Western Ghats.

Tejaswi has translated a number of English books to Kannada enriching the depth of Kannada literature. His famous translations include the series on Kenneth Anderson's hunting expeditions and Henri Charrière's Papillon.

Tejaswi wrote his first novel, Kaadu Mattu Kraurya, when he was a 24-year-old in 1962. The novel is expected to be in print for the first time towards the end of 2012. He had initially planned to name this work Nalini but later decided to go by its present title. Tejaswi was inspired to write the novel after visiting his wife Rajeshwari's maternal home in the forested Malnad region of Karnataka. The novel, whose manuscript was prepared by Rajeshwari, is the story of Linga, a migrant bonded labourer from north Karnataka who moves to a remote Malnad village where he struggles to cope with his new life and surroundings.[3]

Awards
  • Sahitya Academy Award for "Chidambara Rahasya" (1987)
  • Karnataka Sahitya Academy Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement (1985)
  • Pampa Award (2001)
  • Rajyotsava Award
  • Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for "Karvalo"
  • Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for "Chidambara Rahasya"
  • Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for "Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu"
  • Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for "Alemariya Andaman Mattu Mahanadi Nile"
  • Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for "Parisarada Kathe"
  • Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for "Kaadina Kathegalu"
  • Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for "Vismaya" along with Pradeep Kenjige
  • Karnataka State Film Award for Best Story 1986-87 for "Tabarana Kathe"
  • Karnataka State Film Award for Best Dialogue 1986-87 for "Tabarana Kathe"
  • Karnataka State Film Award for Best Story 1989-90 for "Kubi mattu Iyala"

Bibliography

Novellas
  • Swaroopa
  • Nigoodha Manushyaru

Novels

Short stories
  • Huliyoorina Sarahaddu
  • Abachurina Post Office (1973)
  • Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu (1990)
  • Pakakaranthi Mattu Itara Kathegalu (2008)
  • Parisarada kathe (1991)
  • Aeroplane Chitte Mattu Itara Kathegalu (1993)
  • Aayda Kathegalu (2007)

Travelogue
  • Alemariya Andaman Mattu Mahanadi Nile

Poetry
  • Somuvina Swagata Lahari (1964)

Drama
  • Yamala Prashne (1965)

Criticism
  • Vyaktivishishta Siddantha (1967)
  • Vimarsheya Vimarshe (2011)
  • Hosa Vicharagalu (2015)

Adventure
  • Bellandoorina Narabhakshaka (Kadina Kategalu Volume 1)
  • Peddacheruvina Rakshasa (Kadina Kategalu Volume 2)
  • Jaalahalliya Kurka (Kadina Kategalu Volume 3)
  • Munishami Mathu Magadi Chirathe (Kadina Kategalu Volume 4)
  • Rudraprayagada Bhayanaka Narabhakshaka

Science
  • Sahaja Krushi
  • Missing Link
  • Flying Saucers (Part 1& 2)
  • Vismaya (1, 2 & 3)

About birds & nature
  • Minchulli [ Kannada Naadina Hakkigalu - 1]
  • Hejje Moodada Haadi [ Kannada Naadina Hakkigalu - 2 ]
  • Hakki Pukka
  • Mayeya Mukhagalu (Photo Album)

Millennium (series 1-16)
  • Hudukata
  • Jeevana Sangrama
  • Pacific Dweepagalu
  • Chandrana Chooru
  • Nerehoreya Geleyaru
  • Mahayudda - 1
  • Mahayudda - 2
  • Mahayudda - 3
  • Desha Videsha - 1
  • Desha Videsha - 2
  • Desha Videsha - 3
  • Desha Videsha - 4
  • Vismaya Vishwa - 1
  • Mahapalayana - Translation of The Long Walk by Sławomir Rawicz
  • Vismaya Vishwa - 2
  • Adventure

Translation (fiction)
  • Papillon - 1
  • Papillon - 2
  • Baji Papiyon - 3

(Translated with Pradeep Kenjige)

Biography
  • Annana Nenapu

Annana Nenapu is a biography of the Tejaswi which discusses his days with his father, the national poet of India Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, revealing the actual lifestyle of the Kuvempu and his bonding with his family.

About Tejaswi
  • Nanna Tejaswi by Rajeshwari Tejaswi
  • Poornachandra Tejaswi Baduku Baraha by Karigowda Beechanahalli
  • Poornachandra Tejaswi Avara Sahitya Vachike by Karigowda Beechanahalli
  • K. P. Poornachandra Tejaswi by Maheshwaraiah
  • Kaadina Santa Tejaswi by Dhananjaya Jeevala

Works in visual media

Movies

TV Serial

  • Chidambara Rahasya

Plays

  • Jugari Cross
  • Chidambara Rahasya
  • Krishnegowdana Aane
  • Yamala Prashne
  • Maayamruga
  • Parisarada Kathe
  • Karvalo
  • Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu

Trivia
  • Tejaswi heralded a new wave, when he (with like-minded friends) compiled Kuvempu's Sri Ramayana Darshanam in Kuvempu's handwriting. The Government of Karnataka 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 Tanujate, written by Kuvempu. Tejaswi, as son of Kuvempu and holder of copyrights of Kuvempu's articles, strongly criticised any attempts to change the poem.
  • While some intellectuals condemned the daubing incident of Belgaum Mayor Vijay More's face with black paint on 11 November 2005, Tejaswi rhetorically asked if More deserved Fair & Lovely instead.
  • Tejaswi had a great appetite and was known for his fondness for good food.

Death

He died of cardiac arrest at his farm house Niruttara, Mudigere in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka state, on 5 April 2007 approximately at 2.00 p.m.[1] He was 69 at the time. He has 2 daughters Susmitha and Eshanye who are software professionals. His wife Rajeshwari stays in Niruttara,Mudigere.

Further reading
  • Poornachandra Tejaswi's, "Annana Nenapu" although not an autobiography, extensively narrates his childhood and early life.
  • "Nanna Tejaswi" is a memoir written by Poornachandra Tejaswi's wife, Rajeshwari, that documents the years they spent together.[3]
  • "Kaadina Santa Tejaswi" by Dhananjay Jeevala.
  • Tejaswi Badukiddare by Keerthi Kolgar

See also

References
  1. Mangalorian.com – Noted Kannada writer Poornachandra Tejasvi passes away Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Flights of fancy". Online webpage of The Hindu. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
  3. "Tejaswi's first novel set to see the light of day". The Hindu. 11 August 2012.
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