VC Prof. Hemantha Kumar inaugurates ‘DVG & BGL Swamy Gallery’

Mysuru: It has been proposed to collect rare items and manuscripts of 34 littérateurs who have made remarkable contribution to Kannada literary world, said Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore (UoM).

He was speaking after inaugurating DVG & BGL Swamy Gallery at a function organised jointly by Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies (KIKS) and DVG Balaga Pratishtana at B.M. Sri auditorium here on Wednesday last.

The VC said, on the lines of DVG and BGL Swamy Gallery, documents and literature connected items of 34 literary figures will be conserved and put on display. “It is not rare that brilliant children are born to great personalities. The best example has been Dr. K.V. Puttappa (Kuvempu) and his son Dr. Poornachandra Tejaswi. Tejaswi found out a different path to become a famous writer. If he was alive today, he would have brought another ‘Jnanapith’ award to Kannada. It is a big loss to the Kannadigas,” he said.

He further said that D.V. Gundappa (popularly known as DVG in literary circle) was remembered everyday by researchers, orators and scholars for his work Mankuthimmana Kagga. Like Vachanas of Sarvagna, the Kagga was considered as the essence for a happy life and they were quoted extensively by them. DVG has contributed several works including poems and dramas. There may be persons of his calibre in other languages but Kannada was lucky enough to have him. Steps have been taken for renovation of Jayalakshmi Vilas Palace in the University premises at a cost of Rs. 6 crore.

UoM Registrar Prof. R. Shivappa, retired Professor N.S. Taranath, Prof. C.R. Nagendran, close relative of BGL Swamy Geeta Narayana Iyer, H. Rajkumar of DVG Balaga Pratishtana,  KIKS Director Prof M.B. Manjunath and Prasaranga Director Prof. N.M. Talwar were present during the occasion.

What is in the gallery

Items such as manuscripts, literature, rare pictures, autographed books, caricatures by DVG, photos clicked by DVG,  awards, hand-made bag used by late D.V. Gundappa have been put on display at the gallery adjacent to Kuvempu Gallery at Jayalakshmi Vilas Palace in University premises.