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Kannada Literary Journalists

First Online: September 01,2006
Page Last Updated: April 27,2008

Introduction

Journalism as a field of literature in Kannada language started about 1840 A.D. when  Herman Mongling, a German missionary started "Mangaluru Samachar" and "Kannada Samachar" [1] newspapers. Bhashyam  Bhashyacharya (1833- 1884 A.D.)  of Mysore started a weekly "Mysuru Vrittanta Bodhini". This is considered as the first Kannada periodical. 

Since then great many leaders have developed journalism as a fine literature form in Kannada language, and here, I have attempted to remember them on the occasion of 50 years of forming the state of Karnataka. The following list includes reporters, editors, columnists, and biographers, but does not include writers of other genre like novels, poetry, or classics. I have tried to mention their respective periodicals as well, and I hope this will be a great resource for researchers of Kannada journalism as a literary movement.

-Vikas Kamat
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Prominent Writers Who Developed Kannada Literary Journalism

  • A.R. Krishnasastry started Prabuddha Karnataka (1918)

  • Mohare Hanamanthraya started  Samyukta Karnataka (1929)

  • Yajaman Veer Basappa of Mysore Star

  • Ti. Ta. Sharma ran Vishwa Karnataka for many years

  • B. Puttaswamiah of Okkaligara Patrike

  • B.M. Srikantiah operated a regional paper Kannada Bavuta

  • M. Venkatakrishniah  (1844-1933) of Mysore. He ran Sadhvi, Vrittanta Chintamani, Grama Jeevana and many other periodicals.

  • K. N. Guruswamy (b. 1901) who started  Mysore Printers. Prajavani, Sudha, Mayur and Deccan Herald were started here.

  • Patil Puttappa started Vishwavani

  • Kadengodlu Shankar Bhat started Rashrabandhu

  • M. Sivaram (Raa.Shi) started the Kannada humor magazine Koravanji in 1942. It is still in print under the name Aparanji

  • N.R. Karibasappa Shastry (1872-1923) served as the editor of Mysore Star, and also ran "Veerashiva Grantha Prakashike" monthly.

  • Huruli Bheemarao (1889-1970) edited Kanthirava magazine for thirty-five years.

  • V.B.Naik edited Samyukta Karnataka

  • P.R. Ramayya (1894-1970) started a hand-written newspaper Dinavani. He also contributed  many articles to period publications.

  • Ranganath Diwakar established the Loka Shikshana Trust and edited Samyukta Karnataka, Kasturi, and Karmaveera.

  • Siddavanahalli Krishnasharma (1904-1973), a freedom fighter and edited Vishwa Karnataka, Vahini, Jai Karnataka, and Navodaya

  • Gopalakrishna Adiga edited Sakshi as a periodical for Kannada intellectuals

  • M.N. Chowdappa(1909-1985) Served as editor of Prajamata and Kathanjali periodicals

  • Gourish Kaikini (1913-2002) edited Belaku and Nagarika

  • B.N. Gupta (1895-1976) who invested and started Prajamata, Janavani, Chitragupta and Mallige

  • R. Kalyanamma (1894-1965) operated a women's paper Saraswati

  • M.R. Lakshamma (1913-1984) started a weekly for women called Sodari

  • Padigaru Venkataramanacharya] (Pavem or Langulacharya) served as editor of Samyukta Karnataka, Kasturi, Antaranga, and Karmaveera, and popularized reading habit among Kannadigas.

  • Khadri Shamanna was well known for his editorials, served in Prajavani, Samyukta Karnataka and Kannada Prabha newspapers.

  • Nadig Krishnamurthy (1921-1983) mentored many arts students to take up journalism, and served as a professor of journalism

  • Niranjan contributed as a columnist and assistant editor in Rashrabandhu, Janashakti and Prajavani.

  • H.V. Nagarajarao served as editor of Prajamata

  • Pa.Su. Bhat (1931-1981) worked with papers Samyukta Karnataka and Prajaprabhtwa.

  • Santosh Kumar Gulwady served as the editor of Taranga and tried many new experiments in Kannada periodical publishing.

  • Babu Krishnamurthy (Chintamani Venkatesh Shatry Krishnamurthy) served with the Mangala weekly and currently the editor of Karmaveera.

  • E.R. Seturam worked for many years as a news analyst and when Sudha weekly was started, became its editor.

  • M.B. Singh (b. 1925) served as the editor of Sudha weekly

  • P. Lankesh who started and edited Lankesh Patrike, which was free of advertisements and was very popular with the subscribers for its casteist coverage of politics, crude humor, and all original content.

  • Vijaya Subramanyam of Roopatara Cinema magazine

  • M. Raman of Roopatara

  • T. Satish U. Pai served the Udayavani newspaper for many years as managing editor and editor

  • Chiranjivi who served on the editorial staff of Taranga.

  • S. Diwakar formerly of Mallige monthly

  • G.U. Bhat who edited and published Nagarika weekly

  • K.P. Poornachandra Tejasvi wrote a very popular column and essays for Lankesh Patrike.

  • G.S. Sadashiva who edited Mayura monthly

  • Vishweshwar Bhat who as editor of Vijaya Karnataka daily, exploded its subscriptions and popularized daily reading of Kannada news papers.

  • Ravi Belegere popular columnist who wrote "Hi Bangalore" and edits a weekly with the same name.

Missionary  Herman Mongling
Mongling

Portrait of P.V. Acharya (Pavem)
P.V. Acharya


Kadengodlu Shankar Bhat
Kadengodlu Shankar Bhat


 

 

References

  1. Srinivasrao S. V., Kannada Sahiti Darshana, Sourabha Publishers, Bangalore,  1989
  2. Adhunika Kannada Barahagararu, Mysore Prasaranga

See Also:

 

Kannada Writers and Poets
Kannada Writers

Picture
Pu. Ti. NarasimhacharP.V. Acharya (Pavem)Kannada Poet M. Akbar AliThose Who Saved KannadaSiddavanahalli Krishna SharmaGovindrao V. ChulakiKrishnakumar KallurN.S. Gadagkar
Writer S.V. RangannaPrahlad NaregalGourish KaikiniPortrait of M. K. IndiraPanje Mangesh Rao (1874-1937) Portrait of Girish KarnadPortrait of Dinakara DesaiProf. Gopalakrishna Adiga
Shivaram KaranthYashwant ChittalKeertinath Kurtkoti (1925-2003)Kannada Writer Prabhushankar Kannada Humorist M. Sivaram (Ra.Shi)Ranganath DiwakarA.R. KrishnasastryEminent Lawyer and Writer Hemalata Mahishi
Prof. G. Varadaraja RaoWriter H.K. RanganathKannada Poet DVGProf. G.S. AmurPortrait of M. Chidananda MurthyProf. M.V. Seetharamiah at his ResidenceKannada Researcher and Writer Sham. Ba. JoshiThe Big Two - Kuvempu and Masti at a function remembering B.M.Srikanthaiah
Ha .Ma. Nayak and Gorur Ramaswamy IyengarPortrait of Prof. A. N . Murthy RaoPortrait of M. Govind Pai Portrait of Prof. A. N. Moorthy RaoPortrait of G. S. ShivarudrappaPortrait of Prof. U.R. AnanthamurthyPortrait of B.M. SrikantaiahPortrait of Prof. V.K. Gokak
Kannada Playwright and Publisher G.B. Joshi Portrait of Kannada Researcher S. M. JoshiKannada Poet Su. Ram. EkkundiPortrait of T.P. KailasamPortrait of Mirji AnnarayaPortrait of A. K. RamanujanChannappa UttangiKannada Writer B.G.L. Swamy
Portrait of Shantadevi KanaviPortrait of H.V. SavithrammaKannada Dramatist SrirangaA Doctor and a WriterKannada writer Prof. B.G.L. SwamyProf. M.V. Seetaramiah -- Kannada scholarWriter Poornachandra Tejasvi

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