Dr.RAJ MEMORIAL - A Tribute to the Legend

Dr. Rajkumar (Kannada: ಡಾ. ರಾಜಕುಮಾರ್), born as Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju on April 24, 1929, died on April 12, 2006, was the most popular actor and singer in Kannada film industry. He mainly worked in Karnataka and has won awards for his work.
"Dr. Raj" (popular name) with earned title "Natasarvabhouma" (meaning emperor of acting) retained popularity in both Karnataka and other Indian states. His primary view about his fans was "I don't know whether I will ever see God. But for me all those who are assembled here are my Gods." Fans call him "Annavru" (Kannada: ಅಣ್ಣಾವ್ರು, Big Brother) with affection. He acted in more than 200 Kannada movies in a career spanning over five decades. Most of his movies were epic films in Kannada film industry. He was also a well-known singer, as a playback singer as well as of devotional songs. His voice is referred as kogile kanta (the voice of a nightingale).

Main article: Gokak agitation

The "Gokak report" popularly known as "Gokak varadi" was about making Kannada a compulsory language for primary education. Considering that the language is spoken by a majority of people in Karnataka, the Gokak movement's goal was to give Kannada the same basic right already enjoyed by other official languages in their respective states of India. When the Kannada literary experts and students started this movement there was a positive response from the common man in Karnataka. It gained momentum when Rajkumar was asked to lead the movement. He became actively involved in the movement and soon became the force behind the Gokak movement that was designed to bring Kannada to the forefront. He took a rally from Belgaum to Bangalore and gave speeches about the importance of Kannada. The government responded positively and Kannada was to become a compulsory language of education in Karnataka. Ensuring respect and dignity for Kannada language and Kannada culture were the corner stones of his life. However, this movement seeded unwarranted linguistic chauvinism in the capital of Karntaka, Bengaluru. Though, the movement originally was attributed to good cause, certain quarters of the followers interpreted it in a totally different version that caused major setback on the day-to-day life of the peace-loving people of cosmopolitan Bengaluru.

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Kuppali Venkatappagowda Puttappa (Kannada: ಕುಪ್ಪಳ್ಳಿ ವೆಂಕಟಪ್ಪಗೌಡ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ) (December 29, 1904 - November 11 ,1994) is a Kannada writer, poet, widely regarded as the greatest poet of 20th century Kannada literature. He is the first among seven recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada. Puttappa wrote all his literary works using the pen name Kuvempu. He is the second among Kannada poets to be revered as Rashtrakavi (after M. Govinda Pai). His work Sri Ramayana Darshanam, the rewriting of the great ancient Indian epic Ramayana in modern Kannada, is regarded as revival of the era of Mahakayva (Epic poetry) in a contemporary form and charm. He is immortalised by some of his phrases, and in particular for his contribution to Universal Humanism or in his own words Vishwa maanavataa Vaada. He was conferred Padma Bhushan by Government of India.

Early life and education

Kuvempu's ancestral house in KuppaliKuvempu was born in Hirekodige, Koppa taluk, of Chikmagalur district to a native Kannada family. He was brought up in a place in the lush Malenadu region of Tirthahalli, called Kuppali, of Shivamogga district. His education began at his home by an appointed teacher from Dakshina Kannada. He joined Anglo Vernacular school in Tirthahalli to continue his middle school education. He lost his father Venkatappa Gowda at the early age of 12 due to ill health. Kuvempu finished his lower and secondary education in Kannada and English in Tirthahalli. He moved to Mysore for further education and completed his high school from Weslian high school. He pursued his college studies in from Maharaja College of Mysore and graduated in 1929 majoring in Kannada. He married Hemavathi on 30 April 1937.

Later life

He had two sons and two daughters. K.P.Poornachandra Thejaswi, Kokilodaya Chaitra, Indukala and Tharini. Tharini is married to K. Chidananda Gowda, the former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University. He responded poetically to even mundane events. When he got a car, he is quoted to have said, "Chakracharanake swagatha!" - Welcome to wheel footed! He named his house as "Udayaravi", "Rising Sun", called the farmer "uluva Yogi" the "tilling Yogi", and called for egalatarian society in his message "Sarvarige samapaalu, sarvarige samabaalu" "Equal share for all, Equal life for all". His "Raso Vai Saha" is a famous work of "kavya mimamsa", the "Principles of literary criticism", in the Kannada thought of twentieth century. He is credited for giving Kannada hundreds of new words, phrases and terminologies with distinctly precise ideas; literary, social, phylosophical and spiritual. This led to common people asking him to suggest a name for their newborns, for decades, through postal correspondece, which he obliged!
Kuvempu Signature:

More About Kuvempu : Kannada Version , English Version

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