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Introduction

It can be surely said that the rejuvenation of modern Kannada literature started during the regime of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III. The mahārāja offered shelter and patronage to several vidvāns (scholars). The scholars in his court—i.e. āsthāna-vidvāns—rendered their service to literature by translating into Kannada great works like Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata, Bhāgavata, and other devotional texts (bhakti sahitya).

Subbanna the Musician

Shri. Subbanna was the music teacher in the girls’ school. During those days, teachers were familiar with a bit of poetry. They were trained enough to at least recognise some of the features/attributes of poetry. When his prowess and enthusiasm was at its peak (1887 C.E.), the golden jubilee of the coronation of Queen Victoria was being celebrated. Probably during that or sometime later, to suit the situation, he composed the following song. He used to teach this for many more years to come.

ಕ್ವೀನ್ ವಿಕ್ಟೋರಿಯಾ