‘Our educational system is the reason for increasing concern about Kannada’s survival in Bengaluru’ Premium

Poet, translator, and academic H.S. Venkatesha Murthy, who released his autobiography recently in Bengaluru, talks about the literary tradition of Kannada and concerns about language’s survival in Bengaluru .

At the release of his autobiography recently, poet, translator, and academic H. S. Venkatesha Murthy, popularly known as HSV, said that he finds satisfaction in drawing inspiration from his early memories of village life, reflecting them in his writings as metaphors. HSV, who will be 80 next year, believes that Kannada language will continue to be a strong medium of literature in the contemporary context due to its expressive power, even as he shares concerns about the language’s survival in a metropolis like Bengaluru due to the impact of the educational system.

The author, who has also written for children, rued the lack of new Kannada literature for children and their disconnect with the language, which can be addressed by promoting Kannada as a medium of education. His new autobiography Nenapina Orate (Spring of Memories) combines both personal and literary aspects of his life.  

When you look back at your long career as a writer and poet, what do you feel most satisfied about? Do you have any regrets as a writer and academic?  

No, I have no regrets. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a village and most of my literature is inspired by the life I had in my hometown. The essence of the language spoken in my village and the scenery there is reflected in my writings as metaphors. So, I am grateful for the life I had in the village and what it has turned me into.   

You have written many poems that have been set to music and made popular. When you started out, there was a certain disdain for Geeta Gayana by Navya (modernist) writers. Those writing songs were frowned upon as “lesser” poets. Has that changed now?  

English songwriters are called versifiers, but it is not the same in Kannada literature, everyone is considered a poet. In Kannada literature, there has never been a differentiation between someone who writes poetry and someone who writes songs. Speech and songs have always got along in Kannada literature, they are called odugabba and haadugabba, reading and singing poetry. Some poets write poems that must be read out and some write poems that must be sung. Even eminent poets like Purandara Dasa and Kanaka Dasa are poets who wrote poems that could be sung.  

How do you view the status of Kannada as a language and as a medium of literature in the contemporary context?