P. T. Narasimhachar

P. T. Narasimhachar (Pu Ti Na)
Kamat's Potpourri
Born	(1905-03-17)17 March 1905 Melukote, Pandavapura taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka
Died	23 October 1998(1998-10-23) (aged 93) Bangalore, Karnataka
Pen name	Pu Ti Na (ಪು ತಿ ನ)
Occupation	Writer, poet
Nationality	India
Genre	Fiction
Literary movement	Kannada: Navodaya

Purohita Thirunarayana Narasimhachar (17 March 1905 – 23 October 1998), commonly known as PuTiNa, was a playwright and poet in the Kannada language. Along with, Kuvempu and D. R. Bendre, he forms the well-known trio of Kannada Navodaya poets. He is a Sahitya Akademi fellow and the a winner of the Pampa Award, awarded by the Government of Karnataka in 1991.

Life and career

PuTiNa was born on 17 March 1905 into an orthodox Iyengar family in the town of Melkote in Mandya district of Karnataka. His father was Tirunarayana Iyengar and mother was Srirangamma. The study of Sanskrit was an important part of his education, as was English, being the primary language of instruction at the time.

PuTiNa's intellect curiosity was aroused in his study at Maharaja's College, Mysore, where he came under the influence by his English professor TiNamSri, who recognized his talent for poetry; the former President of India, S. Radhakrishnan, who was then a professor at the college; and the well-known philosophy professor, M. Hiriyanna.

Apart from being a writer, PuTiNa also worked in the army of Mysore state and later in the legislature of the Government of Mysore state. He served as a member of the Mysore University committee looking at revising the English-Kannada dictionary. He died on 23 October 1998.

Literary contributions

PuTiNa was one of the catalysts of the Navodaya style of Kannada literature. According to Lakshminarayana Bhat, "At a broader level, the growth of the Navodaya style of literature resembles the growth of the writings of PuTiNa". In his first collection of poems Hanathe, he conveyes profound insights into significant moments in life by using a simple language and style. Many of PuTiNa's writings detail the beauty and majesty of nature, bordering on the spiritual. Two of his well-known writings are Ahalye, which subtly narrates the conflict between kama and dharma, and Gokula Nirgamana, which narrates the departure of Krishna from Gokula. PuTiNa's essays reflect his dominant poetic personality. While some of his essays portray everyday situations, others are more reflective and moralistic in nature.

Awards and recognitions

PuTiNa's awards and recognitions include:

• Central Sahithya Academy Award for Hamsa-Damayanthi and Gitarupakas
• Honorary Doctor of Literature from Mysore University
• President of 53rd Kannada Sahithya Sammelana, 1981, Chikkamagaluru
• Granthaloka award for Sriharicharite, 1989
• Pampa Award, 1991
• Padma Shri from the Government of India, 1991

Bibliography

Collection of poems

• Hanate
• Mandaliru
• Sharadayaamini
• Hrudaya vihari
• Ganesha darshana
• Rasa Sarasvati
• Maley Degula
• Irula Meragu
• Haley Chiguru – Hosa Beru
• Raaga raagini
• honala haadu

Musical dramas

• Vasanta Chandana
• Seeta Kalyana
• Ahalye
• Gokula Nirgamana
• Shabari
• Doniya Binada
• Vikatakavi
• Ramapatabisheka

Collection of stories

• Ramachariya Nenapu
• Rathasaptami and other stories
• Sri Rama Pattabhiskekham
• Hamsa Damayanti
• Eechalu marad kelage

References

• K. M. George (1992) [1992]. Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0.
• P. T. Narasimhachar (2001) [2001]. Hill Temple. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 978-81-260-0814-8.
• Amaresh Datta (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 2. Sahitya Akademi. p. 1142. ISBN 81-260-1194-7.
• Sisir Kumar Das, various (1995). A History of Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 81-7201-798-7.

• Documentary by Chadrashekhar Kambar

External links

• An essay of PuTiNa's poetry
• A dance production based on PuTiNa's poetry