M. Govinda Pai

Manjeshwar Govinda Pai (Kannada: ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರ ಗೋವಿಂದ ಪೈ) (1883-1963), also known as Rastrakavi Govinda Pai, was a Kannada poet. He was awarded the Rashtrakavi title by the Madras Government (Kasaragod district was part of South Kanara district of Madras state prior to the States reorganisation on 1st November 1956 [ [http://kasargod.nic.in/ Kasaragod District ] ] ). Govinda Pai was the one who put Manjeshwaram on the literary maps of Karnataka [Venkat Madhurao Inamdar: "Govinad Pai"] .

Early life

Govinda Pai was born on 23rd March 1883 in his maternal grandfather's house in Manjeshwaram [M. Thirumaleshwara Bhat, Sahitya Akademi: "Govinda Pai" ] . He was the first son of Mangaluru savakar Thimma Pai and Devaki Amma. Govinda Pai went to school in Mangalore. For college education, Pai went to Madras (Chennai). Due to the sudden death of his father, he had to return back.

Career

Govinda Pai was also a prolific prose writer. His earliest composition in prose was Srikrishna Charita (1909) which provides for remarkable reading. His best works written in blank verse, viz., Golgotha (the last days of Christ, published in 1937), Vaisakhi (The last days of Budha, published in 1946) and Hebberaqlu (The Thumb, the story of Ekalavya retold, published in 1946) have won for Govinda Pai a lasting place in the gallery of the greatest poets of Kannada literature [ [http://kasargod.nic.in/profile/personalities.htm Kasargod - Eminent Personalities ] ] .

He was able to read and write fluently the languages Tulu, Sanskrit, Telagu, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, Persian, Pali, Urdu, Greek and Japanese apart from Kannada, Konkani and English. He translated several Japanese works into Kannada.

Works

His poems are...
* Gilivindu (1930) (A fight of Parrots):His first collection "Gilivindu" consists of 46 poems exhibits poets perspective towards life, his love for the country, his responsiveness to the nature around him and his love for Kannada.
* Nandadeepa (The enduring lamp): His "Nandadeepa" consisting of 37 poems, a tribute of divotion to God.
* Hrudayaranga

His other works are...
* Hebberalu (On Elalavya)
* Chitrabhanu (On Quit India movement)
* Vaishaki (About the last days f the Buddha)
* Mannina Sogadu
* Tayi

In 1949, the then Madras Government conferred on him the "Rashtrakavi" Award. He was president of the Kannada Sahitya Sammelan at Mumbai in 1951.

On his 125th birth anniversary, a national award was instituted in his name and his old house at Manjeshwar is mooted to be a national monument.

In Udupi near to his native place, "ಗೋವಿಂದ ಪೈ ಸಂಶೋಧನ ಕೇಂದ್ರ" ( "Research Institute of Govind Pai") is established.

ee also

* Kuvempu
* G. S. Shivarudrappa

External links

* [http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/kar/writers/govind_pai.htm Kannada Writers - Rashtrakavi M. Govind Pai]

References