Bangalore: His mastery of the Kannada language, its rhythm and cadence set him apart from a bevy of littérateurs and poets, say his students, army of fans and his own literary contemporaries as they mourn the passing of Rashtrakavi Dr G.S. Shivarudrappa, fondly known as GSS, the poet with the universal appeal.
Memories of abject poverty in his childhood and empathy for the common man were distilled into his poetry, and the helplessness of the individual and society, recurring themes. True to the spirit of Navodaya (neo-literary) movement, his poems are lyrical, full of emotion with philosophical undertones.
As he once said, “Unlike my mentor Rashtrakavi Kuvempu and other great literary giants, I could not stay in one place during my childhood. My father was a teacher and we moved frequently.
That is the reason I am not rooted to one place. But then again, Nature and common man’s life inspired me immensely and helped me in writing and understanding life.” GSS, a member of the Kannada literary pantheon alongside KuveÂmpu and Da.Ra.Bendre, passed away after a prolonged illness on Monday at his residence in Banashankari in Bangalore. He was 87. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
His mortal remains will be kept in state at KIMS Hospital for the public to pay their last respects till Thursday morning, and consigned to flames the same day on Bangalore University campus with full state honours.
“He wanted to be cremated on the premises of Bangalore University, which was very close to his heart,” said his son Prof. G.S. Jayadev.
‘Lived my life to the fullest’
“I have lived my life to the fullest. I don’t want to be put on a life-support system,” Rashtrakavi G.S. Shivarudrappa, who passed away on Monday, had told his family members.
The poet laureate had been ailing for sometime, and he passed away at his residence in Banashankari in Bangalore.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who laid a wreath on the mortal remains of GSS, as the poet was popularly known, said it was an ‘irreparable loss’ to the state and Kannada literary world.
He announced a two-day state mourning from Monday as a mark of respect to the poet. The state government announced a holiday for all schools, colleges and government offices on Tuesday. Banks too will remain closed as the order has been passed under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
A few of his poems have made it into films, like Vedanti helidanu from Manasa Sarovara directed by Puttanna Kanagal. His famous bhavageethe, Yede tumbi hadidenu andu nanu, is an all-time classic.
Many experts feel that GSS would never lose himself in the vortex of structure of poetry. The emotional undercurrent made his poetry poignant. At the same time, one could see his intellectual touch in every piece. For that reason, his works were appealing to the ‘class’ as well as the ‘mass’.
He belonged to a genre of scholars who have successfully mastered the ancient Kannada literature from the perspective of modern literature. He did not show much interest in disciplines such as textual criticism, nor did he pursue disciplines like prosody and grammar in a mechanical manner. He, however, examined literary works in their cultural context and made a successful attempt to make them relevant to modern society. His mastery of Indian and Western poetry and literary theories reflected in his tome, ‘Kannada Sahitya Sameekshe’, which is considered an invaluable attempt at delineating the literary history in the context of literary movements and forms.
Along with Chief Minister, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Jnanapith awardees U.R. Ananthamurthy, Girish Karnad and Chandrashekar Kambar, writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa, poet Lakminarayana Bhat, and scores from the literally world paid their respect to GSS at his residence on Monday.
Next: GSS’ works reflected social commitment
GSS’ works reflected social commitment
Darshana Ramdev | DC
Bangalore: G.S. Shivarudrappa was an idealist. He wrote as India tried to make her way through some of the most trouble times in her history. His works, which were usually set in rural Karnataka, but his gentle understanding of human nature brought him popularity from across the country. He was a poet, literary crtic, literary theoretician, historian, an eminent researcher, administrator and teacher, but it was his unwavering belief in the innate goodness of human beings that made him truly loved.
Born in the year 1926, in a small town named Shikaripura, in Karnataka's Shivamogga district, Shivarudrappa is often hailed as one of the people who shaped the state's literary culture. His father was a school teacher and most likely contributed to his son's scholarly bent of mind, for Shivarudrappa entered the world with a glowing academic caeer.
Shivarudrappa went on to get a Masters degree from the University of Mysore, where he became heavily influenced by the works of Kuvempu. In 1960, he was awrded a Ph.D. for Soundraya Sameeksha, a pioneering piece of work on literary aesthetics in ancient and modern Kannada literature.
Samanyanige Sahitya Charitre, a ten volume series, attempts to make the history of Kannada literature available to its people. Written simply, it never does compromiseon fact.
Shivarudrappa always promoted education in mother tongues, fighting for his own language, Kannada. He founded the Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe in Mysore University, where he also served as the Vice Chancellor.
His achievements were many and they will always be remembered. Having grown up in the heart of rural Karnataka, watching the injustice of the caste system being played out everyday, he went onto become a champion of equality, fighting to do away with casteism and meaningless rituals. His portrayal of the characters in the Ramayana, vastly different from those described by Valmiki, won him the Jnanpith Award.
Shivarudrappa was more than just the sum of his accomplishments. He was a great writer, administrator and teacher, for those he will be remembered. But to the people themselves, his greatest contribution was his goodness, and that will make sure he is always loved.
The most fitting tribute has been made, unwittingly, by Kuvempu, the man he most admired. "O nanna chetana, Agu nee aniketana" (Be Unhoused o my soul, only the infinite is your goal)
