Kannadiga of Global Calibre

Dr. D. V. Gundappa (1887 - 1975), fondly known as "DVG" was a Kannada man of letters who wrote on many topics. His works have been compiled in 11 volumes.

The first volume contains works in aesthetics, literature, poetics, belief, culture, atheism, truth & religion. Incidentally he was one of the first Kannada writers, along with Kuvempu (Dr. K. V. Puttappa) who wrote on aesthetics, paving the way for the later Dr. S. L. Bhyrappa's doctoral dissertation "Truth & Beauty."

The second volume contains his detailed commentary on the Bhagawad Gita, emphasising excellence in work.

The third volume contains the following plays, both translated & originals.

1. A translation of Lord Tennyson's "The Cup." 
2. Original mythological play, "Thilothama" about a celestial dancer.
3. Translation of "Macbeth."
4. Original play about Vidyaranya, mentor of the founder kings of Vijayanagar.
5. Selected verse translation of Kalidasa's "Shakuntala."
6. Original play on Parashurama.
7. Three short humorous pieces, one on a Shakespearean character, Jack Cade, one titled "Elections" & another "Donkey's Victory."

The fourth volume contains biographies of Diwan Rangacharlu, Gopala Krishna Gokhale & Dadabhai Naoroji. Also included are the times of Vidyaranya, his contemporaries & an account of the coronation of King George. To round up the volume are a few children's stories.

The fifth volume contains two exhaustive treatises on Political Science, including a world-view of systems elsewhere at the time of writing.

The sixth, seventh & eighth volumes contain his most accessible writings, being pen pictures of men in public life, musicians, dancers, literary men, divans, traditionalists, large hearted men & assorted other personalities. These evocative writings remind one of similar writings by Addison, Steele, Lamb & others. The latter part of the eighth volume also contains the prefaces he wrote for other books.

The ninth volume comprises his poetry collections "Vasantha Kusumanjali", "Nivedana", "Ketakivana", "Sri Chennakeshava Anthahapurageethe" & most importantly his philosophic poems "Manku Thimmana Kagga" & "Maralu Muniyana Kagga."

The tenth volume begins with a Kannada translation of Omar Khayyam's Rubiyat & continues with "Sri Rama Pareekshanam", "Shringara Mangalam", "Sri Krishna Pareekshanam" & ending with miscellaneous writings.

The eleventh & last volume has writings on "Purushasukta", "Ishopanishad", "Ethics in public life", Journalism, & a yearbook of Mysore for the year 1915.

To sum up, his writings make one proud to have been a Kannadiga to read & enjoy them.