Chennaveera Kanavi

In news– Channaveera Kanavi, a prominent figure in modern Kannada literature and often referred to as ‘Samanvaya Kavi’ (Poet of Reconciliation), Chembelakina Kavi (Poet of Beautiful Light), breathed his last recently.

About Channaveera Kanavi-

Nadoja Chennaveera Kanavi was a Kannada poet, critic and professor whose poems spoke of simplicities of life.
Nadoja is an honour conferred upon him in memory of the first Kannada poet Pampa, who is described as Nadoja means ‘someone who belongs to all nadu (places)’.
He was born on June 18, 1928 at Hombal village in Gadag district, Karnataka.
He bloomed into a poet at Karnatak College under the guidance of then principal V.K. Gokak, a Jnanpith Award winner.
His first work Kavyakshi (1949)– a poetry collection – came out when he was 21.
He has published more than 55 books, including collections of essays and on literary criticism.
From 1956 to 1983 he worked as a Director for ‘Prasaranga’ of Karnataka University
The modern Kannada literary culture, pioneered by Shanta Kavi, had come of age with a great poet like Da.Ra. Bendre and his Geleyara Gumpu (Friends’ Circle).
Kanavi’s oeuvre consists of 8 collections of poetry and they deal with varied themes: nature, love, friendship, children, people, places, democracy.
His wife Shantadevi Kanavi was also a distinguished writer who passed away in 2020.
He was honoured with the Central Sahitya Akademi award for his collection of poems ‘Jeevadhwani’ in 1982, Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985, Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 1989, Pampa Award in 1999, ‘Nadoja’ honorary D Litt by Hampi Kannada University in 2002, honorary doctorate by Karnatak University in 2004 and Ambikatanayadatta National Award in 2012.
He presided over the 65th Akhila Bharat Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held at Hassan in 1996.
He inaugurated the ‘Mysuru Dasara Utsav’ in 2016.