<p>Writer De Jaware Gowda, popularly known as ‘De Ja Gow’, was not just known for his tomes in Kannada literary world. He was recognised all over for his unbridled love for Jnanpith laureate Kuvempu (Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa) and mother tongue Kannada. <br /><br /></p>.<p>De Ja Gow died at Jayadeva Hospital on K R Hospital premises here on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 98 (according to available records, though he was claiming to have crossed 100 years and no old records to support his claim).<br /><br />De Ja Gow’s love for his teacher Kuvempu was more evident when he gave a literary touch to the last days of his ‘Gurugalu’, as he was fondly addressing Kuvempu, in 1994. Kuvempu died on November 9, 1994. His book titled ‘Kuvempu Avara Kone Dinagalu’ (Last Days of Kuvempu) is a detailed narrative running up to 72 pages. It was published by D V K Murthy Prakashana and saw five reprints till 2011. <br /><br />In this work, De Ja Gow has aptly paid literary tributes to his guru. The book has preface by a poet G S Shivarudrappa. <br /><br />De Ja Gow has also recalled how the media covered Kuvempu’s death and the later part extending up to funeral, in this book.<br /><br />Kannada study centreIt would not be an exaggeration to say that De Ja Gow’s speech was never complete without remembering the words of his Guru starting as ‘Nam gurugalu helthaiddru..’. <br /><br />He was instrumental in renaming the Kannada Study Centre at Manasagangotri, after the poet laureate as ‘Kuvempu Institute for Kannada Studies’ in 2004. He also founded Kuvempu Vidyavardhaka Trust and Kuvempu Vidya Parishat.<br /><br />Service in universityDe Ja Gow, who studied in the University of Mysore, served as assistant professor, examination officer and later as the principal of Sahyadri College in Shivamogga. <br /><br />He was the first director of Kannada Study Centre at University of Mysore in 1966. Later, he served as a member of the university’s syndicate. <br /><br />He was also the chairman of Indo-Danish Cultural Committee, Karnataka Chapter president of Forum for Democracy and Communal Committee, chairman of Vishwa Basava Mahasabhe.<br /><br />De Ja Gow also started MA in folkfore in the University of Mysore. <br /><br />He was instrumental in bringing Kannada encyclopaedia (Vishwakosha) project to the University of Mysore, after convincing the then Education Minister K V Shankaregowda. Fourteen volumes were brought out under the project. The works were divided under ‘Kannada Encyclopaedia’ and ‘Subject Encyclopaedia’ (Vishaya Vishwakosha) and 20 to 30 dedicated staff, including well-known Kannada writers Niranjana and HSK, were appointed to execute the project. <br /><br />He had also succeeded in bringing Kannada manuscripts from Oriental Research Institute (ORI) in Mysuru to Kannada Study Centre at the university.<br /> Kannada strongmanWhen there was no decision on according Classical Language status to Kannada by the Union government, De Ja Gowda launched a fast unto death in 2005. <br /><br />When the government failed to positively respond to his demand, he launched a fast unto death in the fag end of the year setting a deadline of January 1, 2006.<br /><br /> At that time, he had warned of returning his Padma Shri award. <br /><br />He had also written to then President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam over the delay in according the Classical Language status to Kanada. <br /><br />When nothing materialised, he chose to go on fast again on January 31, 2006, the Sarvodaya Day and the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It was just a precursor to many such protests till Kannada received the prestigious tag from the Centre. <br /><br />On July 12, 2015, Kannada and Culture Department had celebrated 100th birthday of De Ja Gow at Kalamandira here. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had described De Ja Gow as a ‘Strongman of Kannada’, naturally for his struggle that brought classical language status to Kannada.<br /><br />He had visited Kuvempu’s house (Udayaravi in Mysuru) recently and had spent 45 minutes there with his son and former VC Prof J Shashidhara Prasad. <br /><br />He also visited his native Chakkere on May 13 and went around it, recalling his childhood days, according to those who were close to him.<br /><br />Funeral todayChief Minister Siddaramaiah, Chikkaballapur MP M Veerappa Moily and former chief minister S M Krishna and a host of dignitaries are expected to attend the funeral, according to De Ja Gow’s family members.<br /><br /> </p>
<p>Writer De Jaware Gowda, popularly known as ‘De Ja Gow’, was not just known for his tomes in Kannada literary world. He was recognised all over for his unbridled love for Jnanpith laureate Kuvempu (Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa) and mother tongue Kannada. <br /><br /></p>.<p>De Ja Gow died at Jayadeva Hospital on K R Hospital premises here on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 98 (according to available records, though he was claiming to have crossed 100 years and no old records to support his claim).<br /><br />De Ja Gow’s love for his teacher Kuvempu was more evident when he gave a literary touch to the last days of his ‘Gurugalu’, as he was fondly addressing Kuvempu, in 1994. Kuvempu died on November 9, 1994. His book titled ‘Kuvempu Avara Kone Dinagalu’ (Last Days of Kuvempu) is a detailed narrative running up to 72 pages. It was published by D V K Murthy Prakashana and saw five reprints till 2011. <br /><br />In this work, De Ja Gow has aptly paid literary tributes to his guru. The book has preface by a poet G S Shivarudrappa. <br /><br />De Ja Gow has also recalled how the media covered Kuvempu’s death and the later part extending up to funeral, in this book.<br /><br />Kannada study centreIt would not be an exaggeration to say that De Ja Gow’s speech was never complete without remembering the words of his Guru starting as ‘Nam gurugalu helthaiddru..’. <br /><br />He was instrumental in renaming the Kannada Study Centre at Manasagangotri, after the poet laureate as ‘Kuvempu Institute for Kannada Studies’ in 2004. He also founded Kuvempu Vidyavardhaka Trust and Kuvempu Vidya Parishat.<br /><br />Service in universityDe Ja Gow, who studied in the University of Mysore, served as assistant professor, examination officer and later as the principal of Sahyadri College in Shivamogga. <br /><br />He was the first director of Kannada Study Centre at University of Mysore in 1966. Later, he served as a member of the university’s syndicate. <br /><br />He was also the chairman of Indo-Danish Cultural Committee, Karnataka Chapter president of Forum for Democracy and Communal Committee, chairman of Vishwa Basava Mahasabhe.<br /><br />De Ja Gow also started MA in folkfore in the University of Mysore. <br /><br />He was instrumental in bringing Kannada encyclopaedia (Vishwakosha) project to the University of Mysore, after convincing the then Education Minister K V Shankaregowda. Fourteen volumes were brought out under the project. The works were divided under ‘Kannada Encyclopaedia’ and ‘Subject Encyclopaedia’ (Vishaya Vishwakosha) and 20 to 30 dedicated staff, including well-known Kannada writers Niranjana and HSK, were appointed to execute the project. <br /><br />He had also succeeded in bringing Kannada manuscripts from Oriental Research Institute (ORI) in Mysuru to Kannada Study Centre at the university.<br /> Kannada strongmanWhen there was no decision on according Classical Language status to Kannada by the Union government, De Ja Gowda launched a fast unto death in 2005. <br /><br />When the government failed to positively respond to his demand, he launched a fast unto death in the fag end of the year setting a deadline of January 1, 2006.<br /><br /> At that time, he had warned of returning his Padma Shri award. <br /><br />He had also written to then President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam over the delay in according the Classical Language status to Kanada. <br /><br />When nothing materialised, he chose to go on fast again on January 31, 2006, the Sarvodaya Day and the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It was just a precursor to many such protests till Kannada received the prestigious tag from the Centre. <br /><br />On July 12, 2015, Kannada and Culture Department had celebrated 100th birthday of De Ja Gow at Kalamandira here. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had described De Ja Gow as a ‘Strongman of Kannada’, naturally for his struggle that brought classical language status to Kannada.<br /><br />He had visited Kuvempu’s house (Udayaravi in Mysuru) recently and had spent 45 minutes there with his son and former VC Prof J Shashidhara Prasad. <br /><br />He also visited his native Chakkere on May 13 and went around it, recalling his childhood days, according to those who were close to him.<br /><br />Funeral todayChief Minister Siddaramaiah, Chikkaballapur MP M Veerappa Moily and former chief minister S M Krishna and a host of dignitaries are expected to attend the funeral, according to De Ja Gow’s family members.<br /><br /> </p>
