MYSURU: Noted litterateur, Kannada activist and former vice-chancellor of the University of Mysore, D Javare Gowda, popularly known as ‘Dejagow’ died after cardiac arrest at Jayadeva Hospital in the city on Monday.
A Padmashri awardee, Prof Gowda was 101 years old.
Dr Sandeep of Jayadeva Hospital confirmed his death. His son and former Mysore University vice-chancellor J Shashidhar Prasad were by his side when he passed away at 7 pm. He was not keeping well for the last few years. He is survived by son Shashidhar Prasad and daughter Shashikala. His wife Savithramma had died a few years ago.
Gowda played a vital role in getting the classical language status for Kannada and had sat on a hunger strike for days for the cause. He had also threatened to return his awards if Kannada failed to gets its due. He strived hard to promote Kannada as the medium of instruction in schools.
Author of several books, he was an authority on the work of poet laureate Kuvempu and Basavanna’s vachanas. He was a student of Kuvempu in Mysore University before he went on to become its vice-chancellor from 1969-75. As the V-C, he is credited with several development works including making the campus green.
Born in Chakkere village of Channapatna taluk which is now in Ramanagara district, he was the chairman of Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelan held in Bengaluru in 1970. He was also the recipient of Pampa Prashasti (1998), Gorur Award (2003), Karnataka Ratna (2008) and Nadoja title. He penned the song ‘Nanna Mane Idu Nanna Mane’ for the film ‘Uttara Druvadim Dakshina Dhruvaku’ produced and acted by Channapatna MLA C P Yogeshwar.
Gowda’s hundredth birthday celebrations were held in a grand manner in Mysuru on July 12 last year. His close disciple and writer Malali Vasanthkumar had brought out the book ‘Shatayushi Dejagow’ while Kannada and Culture Department had made a 30-minute documentary on his literary contributions and struggle for the cause of Kannada, on the occasion.
A critic of Hindu religion and caste system, he had recently said he worshipped Jesus Christ and India would have been a better place if it had adopted Christianity. District Minister V Srinivas Prasad, MP Pratap Simha, writers C P Krishnakumar, Malali Vasanthkumar and several others condoled his death. The final rites will be held at Kuvempu Trust in Gokulam on Tuesday.
Dejagow’s works
Dejagow’s works include Sahitya Nayasenana Dharmamruta Sangraha, Lakshmishana Jaimini Bharata (1957), Kanakadasara Nalacharitre (1959), Andayyana Kabbigara Kavya (1965), Chikkupadyayana Rukmangada Charitre (1964), Nemichandrana Leelavati Prabhanda (1982), Janapada Adhyayana, Janapada Soundarya (1976), Janapada Vahini (1977), Janapada Geetanjali (1983). He has translated novels including Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (Hammu Mathu Bimmu), Krishna Hathi Singh’s ‘With No Regrets (Nenapu Kahiyalla), Leo Tolstoy’s ‘Anna Karenina’, ‘War and Peace’ (Yudda Mathu Shanti), Resurrection (Punaruthana) and his autobiography ‘Sahithigala Sangadalli Horatada Baduku’.