Javaregowda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Devegowda Javaregowda (1915-07-06)6 July 1915 Chakkere |
| Died | 30 May 2016(2016-05-30) (aged 100) Mysore, Karnataka, India |
| Pen name | De Ja Gau |
| Occupation | Author, professor, vice chancellor |
| Notable awards | Pampa Prashasti (1998) Padma Shri (2001) Karnataka Ratna (2008) |
Devegowda Javaregowda (6 July 1915 – 30 May 2016), known asDe Ja Gou or simplyJavaregowda, was an IndianKannada writer, folklorist, researcher, scholar and academic. He was disciple of authorsT.N. Srikantaiah andKuvempu.[1][2] His literary career spans over decades in which he wrote over thirty-four biographies in Kannada language and other works including children's literature. He campaigned for the promotion of Kannada language. He had receivedPampa Prashasti (1998),Padma Shri (2001) and theKarnataka Ratna (2008) awards for his contributions in literature and education. He became acentenarian in 2015 and died on 30 May 2016.
Gowda was born in a Vokkaliga family[3] on 6 July 1915 in the village calledChakkere in theChannapatna taluk ofRamanagara district in Karnataka state.[1] He was born in a poor family and had three siblings. As his parents could not afford to educate all, only his eldest brother went to school and Gowda would graze goats. Having passion for education, Gowda would let go goats on their own and instead come and listen to teachers from outside near a school window. He recollects that on one such day when the goats entered a wealthy landlord's farm and destroyed the crop, his father beat him and the school principal then rescued him and admitted him in third standard, also providing him with uniform and books.[4]
Gowda later went on to study inBangalore for intermediate classes and completed his BA in Mysore. He wanted to do his BA with History as his major subject but opted for Kannada when he came to know that notable authorKuvempu would be teaching it. Gowda had admired Kuvempu's works long before getting associated with him as his student. After completing BA in 1941, he went on to do post graduates MA in Kannada. With little scope of getting a lectureship in any college, he took up a clerical job at the Secretariat inVidhan Soudha at Bangalore. He concurrently studied law but did not pursue it as career when he got post of Kannada lecturer at theCentral College, Bangalore. After three years, he went on to teach atMaharaja's College, Mysore. Here, he again was associated with Kuvempu and later credited him for his "academic and spiritual enrichment".[4]
Gowda served as theVice Chancellor ofMysore University from 1969 to 1975 for consecutive two terms. In his tenure as VC he started various post graduates courses in Home Sciences, Criminology, Law and Journalism at the university. He was known for his sharp criticism of the then government policies. While reappointing him as the VC for the second term, the then state governorMohan Lal Sukhadia requested "please try to remember that when you criticize the government, do so mildly".[4] He also wished to start an Afro-Dravidian Institute of post graduate studies called "The Kuvempu Vidyavardhaka Trust", which did not happen because of inadequate government funding.[4]
Gowda actively campaigned for promotion of Kannada language. Various encyclopaedias were published in Kannada after his efforts. Kannada was also used in examinations conducted byKarnataka Public Service Commission. He wrote over thirty-four biographies in Kannada language of eminent personalities likeDr. Babasaheb Ambedkar,Ram Manohar Lohia,Motilal Nehru,Basaveshwara and more. He also wrote books for children onAlbert Einstein,Jawaharlal Nehru,Rabindranath Tagore,Marie Curie and more. He published various books on Kuvempu andSoundarya Yogi Kuvempu narrates Gowda's experiences with Kuvempu.[4] In 1970 he chaired theAkhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana which was held at Bangalore.[1]
On 31 January 2006, thedeath anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Gowda observed a dawn-to-dusk fast seekingclassical language status for Kannada. Earlier he had fasted once before for same cause and also threatened to return hisPadma Shri that was conferred on him in 2001. Eventually he did not return the award as he was hopeful of a favourable reply from the then PresidentA. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[2] In 2014, ex-ministerP. G. R. Sindhia requested government to confer upon him the title of poet laureate (Rashtrakavi) for his contributions to the Kannada language.[5]
In October 2015, Gowda and five others returned the Aralu Sahitya prize, awarded to them by theKannada Sahitya Parishat andBangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation in 2011, to protest the perceived delays into the investigation of writerM. M. Kalburgi's death.[6][7]
Gowda was married to Savithramma. Their son J. Shashidhar Prasad was also Vice Chancellor of University of Mysore.[8] Gowda became acentenarian in 2015.[1] In a felicitation program organized by Kannada Catholic Christian Association on the occasion, he mentioned that he had been worshippingJesus Christ for past 25 years along with all the Hindu Gods. He died inMysore on 30 May 2016 from heart failure at the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research where he was admitted on 28 May.[9] His last rites were performed at the Kuvempu Trust, Mysore. His body waslaid in repose at his residence inJayalakshmipuram and at the Chandrakala Hospital. Politicians and writers likeH. D. Deve Gowda,H. D. Kumaraswamy,S. M. Krishna andM. Veerappa Moily paid tributes to him.[10]
Gowda received his first doctorate in 1975 from theKarnatak University, Dharwad. In 1998, he received doctorate fromMysore University and in 2006 an honorary doctorate was accorded to him by theKuvempu University at Shimoga. He also receivedNadoja Award conferred by theHampi University.[4] On his centenary, a 30-minutes documentary was made by directorKesari Harvoo for the Department of Kannada and Culture.[1]
