Kuvempu

About Kuvempu

Kuvempu (1904 – 1994), was an Indian poet, playwright, novelist and critic. As stated in the blurb of his novel in translation Bride in the Hills – among the earliest texts to ‘portray the distinctive experience of the Shudra life-world’ – he ‘chronicled the emergence of a vibrant and complex rural society caught between manipulative colonial norms and discriminatory native practices.’ A household name in Karnataka, he was recognised for his immense contributions to literature with many awards and accolades – he was the first writer to receive the Sahitya Akademi award in 1955 and the Jnanpith in 1967. Hailing from the Malnad region that is rich in its biodiversity, he imbued his works with a unique ecological consciousness.