Panje Mangesha Rao (Part 2)

The Raichur Conference

Panje Mangesha Rao was the president of the Kannada literary conference that was conducted in Raichur. Although a formal invitation from the town of Raichur was received by the Kannada Sahitya Parishad, the members of the Parishad feared that there would be a difference in opinions of the members of the Welcome Committee and they were afraid that it may negatively affect the conference. However, Kurupadu S Gundappa, a high official in the Department of Agriculture of the Hyderabad Government, urged the officials of the Parishad to go ahead fearlessly. He previously held a high post in the Department of Agriculture in the Mysore Government. Based on his reassurance, the volunteers of the Parishad went to Raichur and stayed in a new building on the outskirts. Everyone was apprehensive; they feared that one of the groups of the Welcome Committee in Raichur may object to the conference and start a demonstration against it. To overcome this fear, they met the Divisional Commissioner, Jang Bahadur Saheb and obtained his encouragement and assurance. In spite of that, our fears weren’t eliminated. We doubted that the rowdy elements of the city may cause disturbances. On the opening day of the conference, it is a usual practice to take the president to the conference stage in a procession. That day, it was decided that we would take the president, Panje Mangesha Rao, in a procession from the house where we were staying to the Rāmaṭaṅki School where the conference was to be held. We planned to leave in the evening at around four. Half an hour prior to that I went to Magesh Rao’s room to alert him and hurry him up. “What, you aren’t ready yet? You aren’t wearing the traditional dress for the procession! The commissioner Jang Bahadur has sent his own car. It is a red-coloured Maxwell car – really grand – it’s waiting. Your dress should be appropriate for that!” When I was saying all these things, Benegal Rama Rao was also in the room. Mangesha Rao listened to me and said with a smile, “Why are you getting restless? I have the right person to remove my nakedness and dress me up. She is extremely smart. I have kept a woman from a distinguished household…” Saying this with a grin, he was signalling towards his back, with his eyes. There was Benegal Rama Rao, who became indignant. He began muttering, “Shameless blackguard! Because of some desperation, the parents of girls are forced to give their daughters in marriage to such people!” and so on. Benegal Rama Rao’s younger sister was Mangesha Rao’s wife. This was quite a humorous incident. While Rama Rao was berating him as ‘shameless,’ ‘blackguard,’ and so on, Mangesha Rao’s loud laughter filled the entire house. The procession that evening was enjoyable. Police constables were stationed every ten to fifteen yards. People had flocked the roads. Everyone was happy. On the eve of the last day of the conference, Panje’s last words were touching and memorable, “When my time comes, in the end, along with the words ‘Krishna! Krishna!’ may I also utter ‘Kannada! Kannada!’ That is my wish.”

The Jamakhaṇḍi Conference

In the Jamakhaṇḍi Conference, a young poets’ meet was organized. Many young poets read out their poems. One of them, named Holla, recited a song about a coconut seller. It was lovely. There was another youngster by name Manvi Narasinga Rao. He must have been around twenty. He was an extremely polite boy. His demeanour expressed his politeness. It appeared to say, “Oh God! Why did you have me born?” He had written and brought an exquisite poem. As a preface to his recitation, he apologised for his impudence. He said, “I’m quite doubtful if what I have brought here can be deemed as poetry. Please excuse me!” and many such things before finally reading out his poem. The audience thoroughly enjoyed listening to his poetry. Their happy expressions seemed to say, “Such a fine boy we have amongst us!” As Narasinga Rao was folding his papers after reciting the last lines of his poem, Panje Mangesha Rao jumped up from his chair, rushed towards him, and with a ferocious expression said, “Who is it that said this is not poetry? They are fools!” He said this with an angry expression gesticulating as if he were poking their faces. Narasinga Rao was dumbstruck. All of us who were witness to this drama were laughing heartily. Narasinga Rao could get the humour only after a couple of minutes. Mangesha Rao hugged and lifted him affectionately.

In his later years, Panje Mangesha Rao would often fall sick. Mysore University had given the responsibility of editing the ‘Bhārata of Gadag’ (i.e. the Karnāṭa Bhārata Kathamañjarī of Kumāravyāsa). We were all delighted to know about this. By the time the editing was complete and he had to write a preface for the work, he had come to Mysore to refer to a few ancient works. He had stayed there for a couple of weeks. On one of those evenings, we were sitting on a stone bench in the spacious garden outside the District Office and were engaged in conversation. At that time a friend came by. Having seen Panje, he exclaimed with joy – Friend: When did you come? Panje: It’s been three or four days. Friend: I wonder what work brings you here… Panje: I came here for a change, just to kill boredom Friend: Has your wife accompanied you? Panje: I told you, I came here to kill boredom! The friend realized his folly and joined us in laughter. Panje was such a person of fine taste. Along with that, he was generous. He had a large family. Their house always had several guests who were looked after well. He had gentleness and softness in all aspects. These are his attributes.

This is the second part of a two-part English translation of the nineteenth chapter of D V Gundappa’s Jnapakachitrashaale (Volume 3) – Sahityopasakaru. Thanks to Śatāvadhāni Dr. R Ganesh for reviewing the translation and offering valuable suggestions. Edited by Hari Ravikumar.

Author(s)

About:

Devanahalli Venkataramanayya Gundappa (1887-1975) was a great visionary and polymath. He was a journalist, poet, art connoisseur, philosopher, political analyst, institution builder, social commentator, social worker, and activist.

Translator(s)

About:

K B S Ramachandra works in the software industry and has a deep interest in Kannada and Sanskrit literature.

Prekshaa Publications

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the fourth volume, some character sketches of the Dewans of Mysore preceded by an account of the political framework of the State before Independence and followed by a review of the political conditions of the State after 1940. These remarkable leaders of Mysore lived in a period that spans from the mid-nineteenth century to the...

Bharatiya Kavya-mimamseya Hinnele is a monograph on Indian Aesthetics by Mahamahopadhyaya N. Ranganatha Sharma. The book discusses the history and significance of concepts pivotal to Indian literary theory. It is equally useful to the learned and the laity.

Sahitya-samhite is a collection of literary essays in Kannada. The book discusses aestheticians such as Ananda-vardhana and Rajashekhara; Sanskrit scholars such as Mena Ramakrishna Bhat, Sridhar Bhaskar Varnekar and K S Arjunwadkar; and Kannada litterateurs such as DVG, S L Bhyrappa and S R Ramaswamy. It has a foreword by Shatavadhani Dr. R Ganesh.

The Mahābhārata is the greatest epic in the world both in magnitude and profundity. A veritable cultural compendium of Bhārata-varṣa, it is a product of the creative genius of Maharṣi Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa. The epic captures the experiential wisdom of our civilization and all subsequent literary, artistic, and philosophical creations are indebted to it. To read the Mahābhārata is to...

Shiva Rama Krishna

சிவன். ராமன். கிருஷ்ணன்.
இந்திய பாரம்பரியத்தின் முப்பெரும் கதாநாயகர்கள்.
உயர் இந்தியாவில் தலைமுறைகள் பல கடந்தும் கடவுளர்களாக போற்றப்பட்டு வழிகாட்டிகளாக விளங்குபவர்கள்.
மனித ஒற்றுமை நூற்றாண்டுகால பரிணாம வளர்ச்சியின் பரிமாணம்.
தனிநபர்களாகவும், குடும்ப உறுப்பினர்களாகவும், சமுதாய பிரஜைகளாகவும் நாம் அனைவரும் பரிமளிக்கிறோம்.
சிவன் தனிமனித அடையாளமாக அமைகிறான்....

ऋतुभिः सह कवयः सदैव सम्बद्धाः। विशिष्य संस्कृतकवयः। यथा हि ऋतवः प्रतिसंवत्सरं प्रतिनवतामावहन्ति मानवेषु तथैव ऋतुवर्णनान्यपि काव्यरसिकेषु कामपि विच्छित्तिमातन्वते। ऋतुकल्याणं हि सत्यमिदमेव हृदि कृत्वा प्रवृत्तम्। नगरजीवनस्य यान्त्रिकतां मान्त्रिकतां च ध्वनदिदं चम्पूकाव्यं गद्यपद्यमिश्रितमिति सुव्यक्तमेव। ऐदम्पूर्वतया प्रायः पुरीपरिसरप्रसृतानाम् ऋतूनां विलासोऽत्र प्रपञ्चितः। बेङ्गलूरुनामके...

The Art and Science of Avadhānam in Sanskrit is a definitive work on Sāhityāvadhānam, a form of Indian classical art based on multitasking, lateral thinking, and extempore versification. Dotted throughout with tasteful examples, it expounds in great detail on the theory and practice of this unique performing art. It is as much a handbook of performance as it is an anthology of well-turned...

This anthology is a revised edition of the author's 1978 classic. This series of essays, containing his original research in various fields, throws light on the socio-cultural landscape of Tamil Nadu spanning several centuries. These compelling episodes will appeal to scholars and laymen alike.
“When superstitious mediaevalists mislead the country about its judicial past, we have to...

The cultural history of a nation, unlike the customary mainstream history, has a larger time-frame and encompasses the timeless ethos of a society undergirding the course of events and vicissitudes. A major key to the understanding of a society’s unique character is an appreciation of the far-reaching contributions by outstanding personalities of certain periods – especially in the realms of...

Prekṣaṇīyam is an anthology of essays on Indian classical dance and theatre authored by multifaceted scholar and creative genius, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh. As a master of śāstra, a performing artiste (of the ancient art of Avadhānam), and a cultured rasika, he brings a unique, holistic perspective to every discussion. These essays deal with the philosophy, history, aesthetics, and practice of...

Yaugandharam

इदं किञ्चिद्यामलं काव्यं द्वयोः खण्डकाव्ययोः सङ्कलनरूपम्। रामानुरागानलं हि सीतापरित्यागाल्लक्ष्मणवियोगाच्च श्रीरामेणानुभूतं हृदयसङ्क्षोभं वर्णयति । वात्सल्यगोपालकं तु कदाचिद्भानूपरागसमये घटितं यशोदाश्रीकृष्णयोर्मेलनं वर्णयति । इदम्प्रथमतया संस्कृतसाहित्ये सम्पूर्णं काव्यं...

Vanitakavitotsavah

इदं खण्डकाव्यमान्तं मालिनीछन्दसोपनिबद्धं विलसति। मेनकाविश्वामित्रयोः समागमः, तत्फलतया शकुन्तलाया जननम्, मातापितृभ्यां त्यक्तस्य शिशोः कण्वमहर्षिणा परिपालनं चेति काव्यस्यास्येतिवृत्तसङ्क्षेपः।

Vaiphalyaphalam

इदं खण्डकाव्यमान्तं मालिनीछन्दसोपनिबद्धं विलसति। मेनकाविश्वामित्रयोः समागमः, तत्फलतया शकुन्तलाया जननम्, मातापितृभ्यां त्यक्तस्य शिशोः कण्वमहर्षिणा परिपालनं चेति काव्यस्यास्येतिवृत्तसङ्क्षेपः।

Nipunapraghunakam

इयं रचना दशसु रूपकेष्वन्यतमस्य भाणस्य निदर्शनतामुपैति। एकाङ्करूपकेऽस्मिन् शेखरकनामा चित्रोद्यमलेखकः केनापि हेतुना वियोगम् अनुभवतोश्चित्रलेखामिलिन्दकयोः समागमं सिसाधयिषुः कथामाकाशभाषणरूपेण निर्वहति।

Bharavatarastavah

अस्मिन् स्तोत्रकाव्ये भगवन्तं शिवं कविरभिष्टौति। वसन्ततिलकयोपनिबद्धस्य काव्यस्यास्य कविकृतम् उल्लाघनाभिधं व्याख्यानं च वर्तते।

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the third volume, some character sketches of great literary savants responsible for Kannada renaissance during the first half of the twentieth century. These remarkable...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the second volume, episodes from the lives of remarkable exponents of classical music and dance, traditional storytellers, thespians, and connoisseurs; as well as his...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the first volume, episodes from the lives of great writers, poets, literary aficionados, exemplars of public life, literary scholars, noble-hearted common folk, advocates...

Evolution of Mahabharata and Other Writings on the Epic is the English translation of S R Ramaswamy's 1972 Kannada classic 'Mahabharatada Belavanige' along with seven of his essays on the great epic. It tells the riveting...

Shiva-Rama-Krishna is an English adaptation of Śatāvadhāni Dr. R Ganesh's popular lecture series on the three great...

Bharatilochana

ಮಹಾಮಾಹೇಶ್ವರ ಅಭಿನವಗುಪ್ತ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ವಿದ್ಯಾವಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮರೆಯಲಾಗದ ಹೆಸರು. ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಶೈವದರ್ಶನ ಮತ್ತು ಸೌಂದರ್ಯಮೀಮಾಂಸೆಗಳ ಪರಮಾಚಾರ್ಯನಾಗಿ  ಸಾವಿರ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಇವನು ಜ್ಞಾನಪ್ರಪಂಚವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಭಾವಿಸುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದ್ದಾನೆ. ಭರತಮುನಿಯ ನಾಟ್ಯಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಇವನೊಬ್ಬನೇ ನಮಗಿರುವ ಆಲಂಬನ. ಇದೇ ರೀತಿ ರಸಧ್ವನಿಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತವನ್ನು...

Vagarthavismayasvadah

“वागर्थविस्मयास्वादः” प्रमुखतया साहित्यशास्त्रतत्त्वानि विमृशति । अत्र सौन्दर्यर्यशास्त्रीयमूलतत्त्वानि यथा रस-ध्वनि-वक्रता-औचित्यादीनि सुनिपुणं परामृष्टानि प्रतिनवे चिकित्सकप्रज्ञाप्रकाशे। तदन्तर एव संस्कृतवाङ्मयस्य सामर्थ्यसमाविष्कारोऽपि विहितः। क्वचिदिव च्छन्दोमीमांसा च...

The Best of Hiriyanna

The Best of Hiriyanna is a collection of forty-eight essays by Prof. M. Hiriyanna that sheds new light on Sanskrit Literature, Indian...

Stories Behind Verses

Stories Behind Verses is a remarkable collection of over a hundred anecdotes, each of which captures a story behind the composition of a Sanskrit verse. Collected over several years from...