The Divine Encounter: When a British Collector Met a Hindu Saint in India

The period of British rule in India is often associated with the introduction of Christianity to the subcontinent, along with its notorious history of mass conversions. Missionaries, in their quest to spread the Christian faith, found success among the lower echelons of India's caste system. However, amidst this backdrop, there are intriguing stories of how British rulers were also influenced by Hinduism and its revered saints. One such remarkable historical incident involves the interaction between a British collector and a prominent Hindu saint in the 19th century.

Sri Raghavendra Swamiji, a renowned saint and scholar, was a staunch proponent of the dvaita philosophy in the 16th century. His spiritual teachings and miraculous powers garnered millions of admirers across various states, including myself. His influence transcended religious boundaries, attracting devotees from diverse faiths, including Christianity. Two notable believers were Sir Thomas Munro and the Nawab of Adoni.

Sir Thomas Munro's Journey

Sir Thomas Munro, 1st Baronet, arrived in India in 1779, where he began his career with an infantry cadet ship in Madras. He served diligently with his regiment during the challenging conflict against Haidar Ali. In 1819, he was appointed as the governor of Madras, earning renown for implementing the 'Ryotwari system.'

A Real-Life 'Lagaan' Moment

In the annals of history, there are moments when reality seems to take a page from fiction. One such moment occurred when Sir Thomas Munro, the Collector of Bellary during British colonial rule in India, found himself in a situation that bore an uncanny resemblance to the Bollywood blockbuster "Lagaan." While the movie depicted a fictionalized account of a central Indian village playing a high-stakes game of cricket to avoid exorbitant taxes, our story is rooted in reality. In this instance, it was not a game of cricket but a divine encounter with Sri Raghavendra Swamiji, a revered Hindu saint and scholar, that made the British collector see reason and rewrite history.

Sir Thomas Munroe & Sri Raghavendra Swami, Mantralaya Incident

The intriguing connection between Sir Thomas Munro and Sri Raghavendra Swami unfolds during Munro's tenure as the Collector of Bellary in 1800. The Madras Government issued an order directing him to collect the entire income from the Raghavendra Swamy Matha and the village of Mantralaya. Despite their efforts, the revenue officials found it impossible to comply with this directive.

          

Intrigued by the situation, Sir Thomas Munro decided to investigate the matter personally. With deep reverence, he removed his hat and shoes as he entered the sacred precincts of the Matha. To everyone's astonishment, Sri Raghavendra Swamiji himself emerged from the Vrindavana (sacred resting place) and engaged in a conversation with Munro. Their discussion centered on the resumption of endowment.

Remarkably, the saint was visible and audible only to Sir Thomas Munro, who received the divine blessing of Manthrakshate. Deeply moved by this transcendent encounter, Munro returned and issued an order in favor of the Matha and the village. This historic notification was published in the Madras Government Gazette, Chapter XI, page 213, under the title "Manchali Adoni Taluka." Copies of this order are preserved in Fort St. George and Mantralaya, serving as a testament to Munro's blessed encounter with Rayaru himself.

Fast forward 218 years, and the fifth generation of Munro's family visited Mantralaya in July 2018 to seek the blessings of Rayaru, continuing the enduring connection between British rulers and Hindu saints.

The fascinating interplay between British colonial India and the spiritual realm showcases the richness and diversity of India's cultural tapestry, where even foreign rulers found themselves touched by the profound spirituality of the land.

Explore the deep-rooted connections between Lord Hanuman and Sri Raghavendra Swami in our related article. - check here 

Echoes of Schoolyard Laughter: A Nostalgic Trip to the First Day at School

First Steps into a Wider World: Memories of My School Debut

Ah, cast your mind back to the golden haze of the late seventies and mid-eighties, a time when life seemed to move at the rhythm of vinyl records and the world was a playground of endless possibilities. Those were the days when my childhood memories were painted in the most vibrant colors, frozen in the best moments that now twinkle like stars in the night sky of my past. We were the carefree souls of our early school days, swaying and grooving to the infectious beats of BoneyM and ABBA, alongside the heart-throbbing local anthems like ‘Dafali waale Dafali bajaa’, ‘I am a disco dancer’, and ‘Arre dewano…’. Our spirits danced in sheer jubilation, our laughter mingling with the air as we indulged in the simple joys of neelam supari, only to wash it down with the creamy delight of Mainu’s lassi during those fleeting school breaks.

Canteen Chronicles: The Basement Bazaar of School-Day Delights

Just outside the school gates, life unfolded in its simplest form, yet for those with a bit more pocket money to spare, the canteen beckoned like a treasure trove of delights. Nestled in the basement, at the very edge of the main building, it was our little corner of paradise. A cozy rectangular cabin to the left was where the teachers retreated for their tea, creating a little sanctuary of their own, while we, the students, eagerly queued at the rear windows on the opposite side, our mouths watering for batata wada, tea, and other tantalizing snacks. And oh, the chocolate jars! Filled to the brim with Peppermints, Parle Kissme, Ravalgons, wrapped in a kaleidoscope of green, red, and orange - they were like magnets, drawing at least a glance from each passerby as we ascended the stairs back to our classes.

The Principal’s office, now that was a realm of awe and trepidation. The mere thought of being summoned there sent shivers down my spine, a prelude to a scolding or, heaven forbid, a call to my father over some mischief or academic slip-up. The path to his chamber was guarded by a brightly lit aquarium, its fish gliding silently, oblivious to the turmoil in our young hearts as the bubble maker softly hummed in the background, doing little to ease the fluttering in our stomachs as we awaited our fate.

Lessons Beyond the Books: The Teachers Who Shaped Us

Reflecting on those school days, each of us can undoubtedly recall the teachers who left indelible marks on our lives. Their dedication, the sparkle in their eyes as they shared knowledge and stories, brought the world into our classrooms. I remember Ms. Pramila Savlekar & Mr. Premratnam particularly, who could bring history and literature to life, making every lesson an adventure. Such memories of SMHS have only grown fonder with time, each of us holding our special moments close to our hearts, yet sharing many common bonds that bring us together in reminiscence.

Aluminum Boxes and Merry-Go-Rounds: The Innocence of Starting Fresh

And then, there was my first day of school in 1976-77, a moment frozen in time. My father, driving his Fiat 1100D, brought me to the 1st standard classroom, a quaint structure that seemed a world away from the main building. Clutching my aluminum school box, filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation, I stepped into a new world. The playground, with its silent merry-go-round and the cacophony of boys at lunch, felt overwhelming. Amidst the noise and the chaos, I found myself longing for the familiar comfort of home.

Stepping out into the sunlight during recess, I wandered just a few paces to where the playground lay spread out in front of our class, a vivid tableau of childhood adventures waiting to unfold. There, in a quiet corner, sat a small, hand-operated merry-go-round. It was an eerie sight, standing silent and still, as if waiting for the laughter of children to breathe life into its solitary existence—perhaps the absence of its operator lending it an air of desolation amidst the bustling school day.

As the day wore on, the playground transformed. It became a teeming mass of energy as what seemed like a hundred boys, both small and towering, descended upon it. They were a whirlwind of noise and motion, running, tumbling, and shouting in the throes of their lunch break revelries. Amid this tumult, I felt like a tiny boat lost at sea, buffeted by waves of commotion and chaos. The rough-and-tumble play of my peers, so different from the quiet order I was accustomed to, filled me with a sense of dread. I remember a moment, poignant and sharp, when the overwhelming sensation of not belonging washed over me. Tears blurred my vision as I whispered a heart-heavy plea to the empty air, "Let me go home."

Smart City India - Namma Belagavi

The initiatives for Smart City Belagavi, India has started off in the right earnest and I was involved in submitting  my wish list to the City Corporation recently. 

The need for a new agenda: Belgaum-Belagavi-Belgaon is nicely poised to take on the mantle of a smart city, it has the right mix of ingredients for a modern city in the making; namely cosmopolitan population, a rich sense of history, a melting pot of cultures, salubrious climate, and strategic location (mid way between the financial & technology capitals of India i.e, Mumbai and Bengaluru). What is more important is its size (about 5.5 Lacs), which I believe is just about right for testing new ideas, implementing smart city technologies and developing an eco-system to sustain it without much hassles. What is particularly important from a political point of view is that the 'Smart City Belagavi' initiative will have a positive impact in driving social cohesion (i.e, bring together disparate groups with political agendas based on linguistic or regional identities) and drive economic growth and prosperity which has suffered as a result of this turmoil.


We have to look at various solutions to put the city on the smart city India map ranging from the high tech to the simple, and from the game changing to the essential, identifying what works and what is most suited for the indian eco-system. Smart City Belagavi initiative will have to rely on drawing up a road map and plan with digital technologies at its core. This means that the agenda involves relying on inexpensive storage, computing, bandwidth and sensors which is collectively called as ‘the internet of things (IOT)’. IOT will help generate large amounts of data that can be used to plan civic resources, save energy, improve efficiency of the civic bodies and help deliver better services to its citizens. That is essentially to my mind, the agenda for the Smart City belagavi project.

I have compiled a list of top 10 issues that the city administrators have to keep in mind while working towards this. Essentially it revolves around two themes

1. As a smart city, Belagavi city (BCC in particular) will optimize its resources use, reducing the carbon footprint to the minimum by improving its efficiency.
2.  Belagavi as a Smart City will involve its people, apart from civic administrators and other stakeholders like Pvt Institutions, Govt etc  in the planning and implementation process

 
 Click here for the final report of the Smart City Proposal (SCP) made by the Belagavi City Corporation that catapulted it to the 15th position in the first list of 20 Smart Cities announced by the Modi Govt.

My other article on Belagavi cuisine, this to-be-Smart City also has great food joints too!!

City Bang Bang

Consider the activity that characterizes a Big city at any moment. Apartment clusters hum with life, large Malls & Shopping Complexes churn, small businesses ship products, people are eating at every conceivable outlet even on makeshift pavement, large open sewer lines direct waste. All across a 25 Km radius, police chase criminals, handshakes secure deals, lovers rendezvous, teachers profess, patients await treatment in Hospitals and children attend schools ; all this while a huge pileup of the byproduct happens - huge mounds of Garbage!

And when the city is unable to dispose it off, the result is akin to a patient in ICU on dialysis. Bangalore city is going through the throes of such a crisis at the moment. It badly needs a dialysis and its nowhere in sight. Yesterday it rained copiously throughout the day, thanks to cyclone Nilam and the traffic also piled up like the garbage on its roads. A perfectly miserable day of outing for its commuters.

Yet as this happens nothing seems to suggest this is going to change soon; a slumbering civic body, indifferent masses, a Govt squabbling within itself . Nobody seems to care how much of Garbage is being produced & packed away; that of course until it ends up in their backyard.

As though this is not enough another thing occupies the mind space at the moment. I would certainly want to know the details of the food supply chain to the city - how the Chickens around the city especially Hesarghatta area are eating & how many are being eaten (by the Bird flu).

🕰️ A Nostalgic Journey: The 1987 Batch of St. Mary’s High School Belgaum Relives School Days 🕰️

Imagine turning back the clock by 25 years, even just for a day. For many, it's a wishful thought. But for us, the 1987 batch of St. Mary’s High School in Belgaum, this dream became a delightful reality.

It all started with a small Facebook group last year, and soon, the excitement of our approaching Silver Jubilee reunion caught on. We approached the school, and Ms. Jasmine Rubdy, our former science teacher, graciously allowed us to relive a day in our old school routine.

 

On a crisp winter morning, we found ourselves lined up for the school prayers, not on the ground as in the past, but on the school portico. This shift in location didn't dampen our spirits. We then joined a classroom session with some of our now-retired teachers. The classroom buzzed with the same energy, and our teachers' eyes sparkled with a mix of nostalgia and affection, their sternness softened by years.

Lunch under the old banyan trees followed. The school had changed, but these trees remained, a comforting, familiar presence. In the afternoon, we played football under the sun and participated in competitive sports, reliving our youthful exuberance.

The highlight was a special 'passing out' parade for our batch, a ceremony we had missed 25 years ago. This symbolic ritual was deeply moving, a chance to reclaim a missed milestone.

The day culminated with an evening gathering, graced briefly by our former principal, Mr. Guruprem David. Despite his health challenges, his animated wave and presence were a poignant reminder of our shared past.

This reunion wasn't just about memories; it was a bridge connecting our past with the present, a testament to the enduring bonds formed in the hallways of St. Mary’s High School.🏫❤️

Bangalore Blues...& Red & Green..

Bangalore aka Bengaluru gets its usual colour every fall; the myriad flowering trees (numbers of which are dwindling though) blossoming in a riot of Yellow, Red, Purple & White. This time though they have some serious competition; street side colorful murals depicting various facets of Karnataka & India.

The effort of the city municipal body (BBMP) that kicked off in 2009 seems to have paid off; in place of defaced public properties covered with anything from film posters to advertisements for jobs or paying guests one now finds serene pictures. Like the good old photo studios of yore, theme backdrops backgrounds in muslin or canvas where one could pose for photographs on a dummy scooter or car. Only difference is that nobody pauses for a photograph here though!

Bus- de’

Friends are showing off their brand new cars on Facebook & Orkut, and egging them are Banks that put hoardings asking them to ‘drive their dreams’. It is another commonly known fact that more than 75% of these cars on the roads are on borrowed money (read loans) i.,e these dreams are valid till the next monthly installment gets paid. Yet as more people pour on to the streets with their new fancy cars ,my immediate reaction is not to say ‘bus kar’ but say ‘Bus-de’.

The other day Montek Singh made this point poignantly clear while speaking to Karan Thapar on Devils advocate. He said one of the underlying objectives of the recent fuel hike was to nudge people to adopt to public transport. I guess he & others in the planning commission were taking note of the fact that there has been a sharp spurt in privately owned vehicles in India (it has increased from 6.8 million in 2003-04 to 12 million in 2009-10).

On the roads the signs of these strains are already clearly visible; increasing commuting times, diminishing parking spaces but more importantly ,as a local newspaper highlighted increasing stress in driving. Bangalore Mirror, the local newspaper had a cover story recently that struck immediate chord with me . It showed how randomly selected drivers, with sensors & biomedical readers attached to their bodies showed a spike in their BP levels as they drove through dense traffic areas in the city.

Urban public transport in metros like Bangalore has certainly gone up several notches with the introduction of modern efficient buses. Bangalore may not have a bus rapid transport system (BRTS) like Delhi or Ahmadabad but I certainly find no dearth of good Buses that drop me to the office & back. And for precisely for the reason the newspaper reported I have increasingly taken to BMTC. I know it may not completely remove the car out of the equation but as long as I find a Volvo picking me up & dropping me in close proximity to Home and office I see very many good reasons to adopt with regular frequency.

So Montek may be formulating fuel price policies but it is BMTC and their efficient facilities that has been a clincher. So try out this concept of Bus day & see how much of a difference it makes to diffuse stress levels. You could also making a big difference not only to the city but to your lifestyle as well.

Can I have an extra serving of these lovely balls?

Grey has never been so appealing while eating. People who gulp down small nuggets of these with mutton Curry or with Soppina Saaru (leafy vegetables curry) swear by its taste. It may look like an awkward blob sitting like a mini boulder in the middle of a Thali but down here in Bangalore, its a standard staple. I am talking of Ragi ‘Balls’(no misplaced swear word but that which describes anything spherical or circular in shape) that is a staple diet in many of the old styled eateries in Bangalore and surrounding region.

Go to any of the downtown ‘Military’ Hotels if you are the types intent on exploring tasty food mindless of the ambiance and you will find this staple as regular as the ‘barood’ in military barracks. Why the word ‘Military’ is associated with these hotels is something that still beats me, there is noting remotely connected with the green beret though. In many cases the word is spelt as ‘Miltry’ just like the local neighborhood pull cart guy claiming his specialty on ‘Chinase’ . The vague explanation I get to hear is that the word signifies to what is generally called ‘going Dutch’ in English.

Coming to the brass-tacks that is the eating part, a word of caution though. If you are the type new to this ‘food gulping business’, a bit of practice or mental preparation is needed before you take the plunge. The subconscious mind orders the Premolars to masticate but you are attempting to send it down the oesophagus like a ball rolling down the bowling alley. And you hope it succeeds as the ball of ragi is sufficiently lubricated in the accompanying gravy (soppina saaru or Mutton curry as the case may be). If there is a mixup of voluntary & involuntary muscular actions , as may happen often for the faint hearted, then the experience is similar to a paper stuck in a printer jam.

Nonetheless it is worth an effort , and what would you tell the waiter if you pass the test in flying colors and repeat the feat ?

Howse that?

I got my son to mingle with a bunch of kids playing a game of cricket at the Indiranagar children’s park recently. My 5 year old son (Niks) was among the younger of this group of 7-8 year olds. When his turn came to bat i helped him to hold the bat & showed him how to swing it. A couple of swings & misses later we finally connected the bat to ball and then I stepped to the sidelines.

I cheered him at a distance as he took a fresh guard - this time all alone. The first ball bowled and his bat was no where near. By the time the next ball was bowled I shouted to encourage him to connect the bat. But to my dismay the shout distracted him, he dropped his bat and turned at me with a quizzical look. The ball by then had somehow managed to go & hit the stumps (which by now had notoriously shifted by a step to the right from where the batsman stood;courtesy the naughty wicketkeeper). Meanwhile Niks wondered why the other boys had begun cheering and finally after parting his bat with much resistance he ran up to me with teary eyes asking ‘what you said Papa?’

Omnipotent Maruti

Around the same period last year (10 Dec08 to be precise) I was in Bhopal, capital city of Madhya Pradesh (MP) on a Business related visit and as the plane made its early morning landing , the contours of this scenic & remarkably clean city came into view . And during the long drive from the Airport to the city I chanced my sight upon a small yet magnificent temple of Hanuman adjacent to the Bada Talaab, a vast lake dotting the city. Before I could make up my mind to stopby & pay obeisance, the cabdriver had sped off. I was disappointed but later in the day, and by strange coincidence, I encountered another 2-3 Hanuman temples in the city. A pleasant surprise was in store for me later that evening when I learnt that it was the auspicious day of ‘Hanuman Jayanthi’. And today is one such auspicious day, Hanumantha Vrata is observed during Margashirsh month in Karnataka.

It is said that after Gayatri mantra , the Hanuman chalisa is perhaps the most recited verses in Hindu homes. Also it is generally believed that there are more Hanuman & Shiva (and Hanuman is considered an incarnation of shiva) temples in the country than any other deity. Popularly known as Sankat Mochan, he has the power to counter the negative influence of Shani (Saturn) & other planetary influences. His chalisa recited 108 times has the power to keep evil at Bay. So no wonder he has a long list of admirers, apart from Obama, celebrities like Amitabh Bachahhan , Lalu Yadav, Bappi Lahari etc are his admirers & followers.

Like his deeds he stands tall in many places in India, his statue at Pusa road Delhi is 108 ft, am sure the one on Bangalore-Tumkur road is nearly as big. There’s a famous temple called Gaali-Anjaneya Gudi in Bangalore, one of the oldest in this part of the country dating back to 1425 AD. Then there is Prasanna Veeranjaneya temple in Mahalaxmipura, one of the frequently visited temples by Hanuman devotees. It has a 22-foot-tall Hanuman statue standing atop a hillock. However my favourite is the Ragigudda, Sri Prasanna Anjaneya Temple in the religious, social and cultural hub of Bangalore, Jayanagar.

Hanuman has an interesting connection with my aradhya Guru ‘Sri Raghavendra Swami’, a 16th century saint. In appreciation of his penance for 12 long years in a cave near Panchamukhi, located on the south bank of river Tungabhadra near Mantralaya, Lord Anjaneya (panchamukhi pranadevaru) is said to have appeared before him in a unique way amalgamating within him the avataras of "varaha, garuda, anjaneya, narasimha and hayagreeva"

Hanuman is one God who has been rediscovered in modern times, he is cool, high on emotional quotient & stands for universal timeless values and is sported everywhere including popular animation films & Playstation games and my son just like me is a big fan & devotee of him. Jai Hanuman!

Khana Khazana: Belgaum Khau-gallis

Belgaon-Belgaum-Belagavi: It may carry several pronunciations but is quintessentially the same old place where I grew up and have fond memories of. It may still be a sleepy old town, by Bangalore standards (that is), but in many ways exhibits a unique flavor in many other aspects of its facets. A confluence of various cultures it could still be the second most cosmopolitan city in the state after Bangalore. And among the notable features of Belgaum is not only the cool temperate climate, sweet water (now available 24X7 in many parts of the city) but also its veritable delicacies.

Belgaum is my favorite place for 2 reasons; its the place where I grew up - home, school/college, club, friends et al., but also great cheap food. The city may be a potpourri of various influences but it still retains originality in the quality and taste of food in some of its quintessential eateries. Madhavashram, Amba Bhavan, Uday Bhuvan, Prakash, New Grand, Ghanis, Ajanta, Zuber, India Bhel House are all venerable names in this lexicon that belong to my list. It has its own list of Khau-gallis where one can still find cheap, tasty and hygienic food.

The Savaji food rules the Belgaum taste buds, hot fiery dishes cooked in a concoction of grated coconut & red chilli powder, garlic etc with generous amount of oil that necessarily has to float on top of the gravy (also called cut) comes in Mutton or Chicken variety. The Savajis trace their culinary history to the Maratha rulers and their influence is still widely spread in North Karnataka, from places like Hubli upto Gulbarga where the food is quite popular. I am disappointed that there are hardly any such eateries in Bangalore, frankly there is a overkill of Andhra style food here. A lot of culinary dishes that you find in North Karnataka has strong affinity to Maharashtrian food - Rotis or bhakar, Zunka, Poha, Amti etc etc is quite common (like the dress code).

Then there is this Mughlai food in Belgaum, and some of its exponents could be the best in business in this part of the Deccan region outside of Hyderabad. Zuber’s, Niyaz and Ghani’s biryani are worth giving a hand and leg for, its flavor and taste, quite distinct from that of the Hyderabadi types.

For Veggies the numerous Khanavali’s (aka Basappa Khanavalis)in Belgaum give a unique peek into the culinary culture of the shaivaites that the various Mutts propagate in this region. Jowar Rotis in accompaniment of fiery red hot or blackseed chutneys, served with zunka and raw onions are its forte. Usually accompanied in this palate is this delectable side dish of Brinjal cooked in a gravel like masala ground with groundnut,sesame seeds, coconut etc. Finally for the desserts it is the famous Belgaum Kunda (a brownish milk based sweet), Dharwad Peda or the Gokak Kardant (Cake of dry fruits & coconut) that can signoff the treat

All about Belgaum (AAB), a local popular website has published a useful list of popular delicacies in Belgaum city.

Rediscovered in Translation

I recently wrote a small piece on the elections in my Kannada blog Parikalpane which was admirably translated into English by Anuj Valmiki. I have reproduced his effort here (in Pic). He probably was responding to a call made by my friend Shaz who found a lot of what was written going over his head! Coming to translation, it is said that the genius of the English language is the genius of the people who use it. However democratic this language may be , it still cannot fathom or replicate many of the words that we commonly use in our vernacular languages. A given set of words will have various meanings or shades of thoughts when woven into a sentence, so even though the translation may bring out some comprehension it may not necessarily capture its essence. This is because words are loaded with meaning that is more than just definition; we invest them with an emotion. Other words are based on evolved concepts. So what really happens is that , more often than not, it gets rediscovered in translation. In a larger context it may have got to do with the cultural differences, a prism through with the emotions & feelings gets translated into language.

Sandalwood: Kannada Film Industry @75

I picked the last issue of Sudha kannada magazine for its cover story on Sandalwood (i mean the Kannada film industry) turning 75. It made an interesting read, for someone who grew up on copious amounts of its influence in the faraway towns of North Karnataka no amount of words or reams of thoughts can explain its phenomenon. So I’ll restrict myself to some random nostalgic soliloquies. This is one wood that is supposed to bear a symbolic semblance to its more famous product from this part of the country. The actual sandalwood, it’s said matures well with age adding to its luster & smell. It becomes precious. But the same cannot be said of this Sandalwood which has been aging in the reverse order, it has been mired in problems, some of its own creation and others to external forces. 

A lot of my friends from outside the state and settled in Bangalore cannot comprehend the phenomenon of its mascot Dr.Rajkumar. His pictures dot many public places but many have not heard of or seen him. They will not because he was a shy and reticent person who avoided public glare unlike most people today. His films belonged to the 1950s -80s period (he was on the wane in the 1990s) and he reigned over a different cult of commercial cinema that has very little semblance to the current genre of films. He carried the reputation of the Industry in its fledgling years and it is said that the last point of his film distributed in the region marked the territory of the film Industry. His golden voice and his song numbers added to his vast repertoire of talent and immense popularity cutting across all sections of the audience. He came from a strong theatre background and his films in many ways espoused his personality which was steeped in simplicity & good values. 

Yet it’s sad to see many groups use and abuse his name for parochial gains. Sandalwood also churned out an amazing array of cinematic talent in the Acting, Filmmaking, and Music fields that finds little peer today. Maybe it’s got to do with the lack of Institutional support & framework and partly with the dying Theatre culture that once flourished under stalwarts like Gubbi Veeranna that fed it with a constant stream of talent. Puttanna Kanagal in my opinion was the equivalent of Satyajit Ray to the Industry in terms of sheer quality & the ‘hat-ke’ themes of his films. The duo of Ragan-Nagendra in the 1960 -80 period brought in a melody of pure brilliance on par if not better than the best in the country of its times. 

There were several Actors & Actresses who also held immense sway over the imagination of the masses. But 2 of them hold almost mystical sway, maybe because of their untimely & tragic deaths. Its Shankar Nag & Kalpana. Shankar Nag was brilliant in portraying the common man, his one film ‘Auto Shankar’ made in the mid-80s was so popular that most auto-wallahs in Bangalore still carry his photographs. He is well known outside the state as director of the immensely popular TV serial ‘Malgudi Days’, he brilliantly & almost with perfectionist zeal recreated the fictional Karnataka town which was the base of RK Narayan’s stories. Kalpana on the other hand ruled the industry in the 1960 -the 70s but was far ahead of her times. Others who left their mark were Ambarish (anti-hero), Vishnuvardhan (my favorite, the challenger), Anant Nag, Manjula, and Jayanthi, among lots others. One cannot also forget greats like Rajnikanth, Illayaraja, Yesudas, SP Balasubramaniam & Kamal Hassan who have been associated with Sandalwood for decades. 

One redeeming feature of the Industry has been to hold its own among other more influential Tamil & Telugu film industries by churning its creative outputs on the vast body of original literary works in Kannada. Some of its most memorable & National/International award-winning films have come from the works of local literary greats like TK Ramarao, Girish Karnad, UR Ananthamurthy, BV Karanth, Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar among others. And the remake culture is threatening that. It is sincerely hoped that the current torchbearers in the Industry like Girish Kasarvalli, Manoharmurthy & Jayant kaikini among others will place it back on its pedestal.

Rajyotsava ruminations

Today is Karnataka Rajyothsava and this year celebrations have more pomp and gaiety since Kannada has been official recognized as a ‘classical’ language along with Tamil & Telugu. On this occasion my thoughts echo on  linguistic activism and its proponents.

I find a  disturbing trend  of the so called groups/associations taking the self imposed mantle of protecting its rights and interests and project it as representative of the community. I am saying this because a small marginal group with dubious intentions and political agenda are usurping at the cost of silent majority.

And sadly the intelligentsia and people who matter most belongs to the latter. To put this thought in perspective it will be important to note that people who have richly contributed to the progress and development of Kannada language has been people who spoke other languages and vice versa.

Four out of the seven Kannada Jnanpith laureates have other languages as their mother tongue. D R Bendre spoke Marathi, Masti Venkatesh Iyengar spoke Tamil, Shivaram Karanth came from the Tulu heartland while Girish Karnad spoke Konkani. Many other important writers in Kannada – D V Gundappa (Telugu), T P Kailasam (Tamil), P T Narsimhachar (Tamil), G P Rajarathnam (Tamil), Tarasu (Telugu), Samsa (Tamil), Na Kasturi (Malyalam), Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar (Tamil) among others did not have Kannada as their mother tongue.

The first person to prepare a comprehensive compendium of Kannada – English dictionary with 70,000 words was a German, Rev F.Kittel in the 19th Century. My relative K Madhav Pai (Konkani) has distilled the complex meta philosophical Kannada couplets of D V Gundappa (DVG) in 2 lucid books in Kannada called Kaggokti Sampada, Part 1&2.

Even when it came to representing the political interests of the community, Veerappa Moily (Tulu) and Dharam Singh (Rajput - Hindi) have been elected as state chief ministers and had long chequered political careers. Similarly Kannidagas like Guru Sri Raghavendra & E V Periyar have vastly influenced other regions in the Religious & Political space. The former is a revered saint with large following in 3 southern Indian states of AP, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu while the latter was a prominent figure in the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu.

Bilingualism is something that flourishes in our state, and many people including me speak two languages (Kannada  & Konkani). Karnataka is probably the only state which is microcosm of many distinct ethnic and linguistic communities , and I am not talking of Bangalore alone, the Tuluvas,Kodavas, Konkani’s, Kshatriya Marathas, Jainas are all very distinct ethnic communities with sizeable populations and history and all have symbiotically blended into the state cultural and social milieu. The Karnataka tourism tagline is very apt “One state many worlds” and would make any anthropologist's delight.

The Kannada language itself has various forms, when one talks of Kannada, it is not a singular tongue, but one with many dialects. For instance, Mysore Kannada, Hyderabad Kannada, Mangalore Kannada, Dharwad Kannada, Coimbathur Kannada and so on.

However on the eve of its 52 Anniversary, it is a fact that Kannada language & culture is facing relentless pressures of modern times and the various facets of this anxiety is well captured by Sugata srinivasaraju in his seminal book “Keeping faith with the mother tongue” , a must read for anybody interested in this topic .

(some of the facts stated in this article has been taken from this Book)