Kodagina Gowramma

Gowramma (1912–1939), better known as Kodagina Gowramma, was an Indian writer who wrote in Kannada and lived in Kodagu. She was a feminist[1] and supporter of the Indian Freedom Movement.[2]

BornGowramma
1912
Madikeri, Coorg State, British India
Died1939 (aged 26–27)
Coorg State, British India
Pen nameKodagina Gowramma
OccupationAuthor
NationalityIndian
Literary movementFeminism
Notable worksManuvina Rani, Aparaadhi Yaaru

Life

Gowramma was born in 1912 to N.S Ramayya and Nanjamma in Madikeri[3] and married to B. T. Gopal Krishna of Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu, then known as Coorg, a province in British India.[4] She invited Mahatma Gandhi to her family house, during his campaign in Coorg,[1] and donated all her gold ornaments towards the Harijan (Dalit) Welfare Fund.[5]

She drowned in a whirlpool, aged 27, on 13 April 1939.[6]

Works

Gowramma wrote in Kannada under the name 'Kodagina Gowramma'.[2] Her stories, such as "Aparaadhi Yaaru" (Who is the criminal), "Vaaniya Samasye", "Aahuthi" and "Manuvina Raani", were modern and progressive. Her story "Manuvina Rani" made her famous. A volume of her best known stories, Gowramma Kathegalu, was issued from Madikeri.[4][6] A volume of Gowramma's stories was published as Mareyalagada Kathegalu and prefaced by Kannada writer Vaidehi.[4] Gowramma's short stories have been translated by Deepa Bhasthi into English in 2023, published by Yoda Press as "Fate's game and other stories[7]".

Kannada critic and writer MS Asha Devi has said, "She was completely influenced by Gandhi and believed that it was possible for people to change society through love, sacrifice and non-violence. She was boldly experimental. She edited the first woman’s short story collection, called Rangavalli. [...] As for her own stories, DR Bendre described them best when he called them khatu-madura, something which would translate to 'bittersweet' in English. She was one of our most important writers, but then, she never got the credit she deserved."[1]

Influence

Decades later, her works inspired Triveni, a writer in Kannada. The writer Shanthi K Appanna has cited Gowramma as an inspiration.[8] Poet D. R. Bendre composed a poem "Tangi Gouramma" about her and her death, published in 1958.[9]

Legacy

Family members have created the Kodagina Gowramma Endowment Award to support writers.[10]

References
  1. TNN (28 October 2017). "Heroes of Karnataka". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  2. Vēṇugōpāla Soraba, Je Hēmalata (1 September 1995). Women writers in South Indian languages. B.R. Pub. Corp. p. 9. ISBN 9788170188360. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  3. Kallammanavar, Srikanth (5 January 2014). "The roots of Kannada in Kodagu". Deccan Herald. deccanherald.com. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  4. Rao, H.S. Raghavendra (1 March 2012). "Pioneering steps". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  5. Kamath, Dr. S. U. (1993). Karnataka State gazetteer, Kodagu District. Bangalore: Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. p. 660. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  6. Rajan, K. Sundar (8 April 2003). "Short stories (Book Review)". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  7. Bhasthi, Deepa (January 2023). Fate's Game and Other Stories. India: Yoda Press. p. 200. ISBN 978-9382579823.
  8. DHNS (5 February 2017). "'Kodagina Gowramma's contribution to Kannada literature immense'". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  9. "Bendre's song". The Hindu. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. DHNS (21 December 2020). "'Mudre' selected for Gowramma Endowment Award". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
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