Mysuru: There are plans to convert the 80-year-old house of Poet Laureate and Jnanpith awardee Kuvempu (K.V. Puttappa) in city into a Museum.
Talks are going on between the officials of the Kannada and Culture Department and the family members of Kuvempu in this regard. The house was built in Vani Vilas Mohalla in 1936. Kuvempu penned some of his best works in this house, which he named Udayaravi (Rising Sun).
Rashtrakavi Kuvempu’s daughter Tarini Chidananda and son-in-law Prof. K. Chidananda Gowda, former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University, live here.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Prof. Chidananda Gowda said that the talk of converting the residence into a museum has been going on for quite some time. “If the government comes forward and takes over the house and convert it into a museum, we have no objection. But we will not use any influence on our own to do it,” he said.
A file photo of Poet Laureate Kuvempu with his wife Hemavathi
In the past too an official from the government had come and held discussions. But nothing came out of it, he said.
“My wife Tarini and I are caretakers of this house which is 80-years-old. When Kuvempu built it in 1936, it was the first house in the area and there was only open fields in front of the house. Some of the finest minds including poets, writers, Chief Ministers and Governors have visited this house,” he recalled.
During the 83rd Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in the city last month, the Tourism Department had arranged Kavi Raja Marga tour and a visit to Kuvempu’s residence was also included in the tour. The visitors thronged his house and were immersed in the many memorabilia displayed. “Even after the Sammelana, people came and they continue to come. We welcome them but at times it becomes difficult for us,” said Prof. Chidananda Gowda.
Visitors being taken on a tour to poet’s house during 83rd Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in city
Asked whether it would be set along the lines of the Kuvempu Museum in Kuppalli, Shivamogga district, he said that it will be along the same lines. He said that Kuvempu’s grandchildren are all living outside including in Bengaluru and Australia.
If the government takes over the residence then it has to pay compensation to the family according to the rules just as it had done at Kuppalli. Prof. Chidananda Gowda said that when N.R. Vishukumar, Director, Kannada and Culture Department, had met him couple of months ago there was just a discussion and nothing concrete had come out of it.
Drawing room with memorabilia at ‘Udayaravi.’
Meanwhile, Vishukumar told SOM that there was only a proposal from Kuvempu’s family for converting the house into a museum. “I have asked for a letter from the family. If they send the letter then we can look into it. However, even if they do not I will try to do something at the government level and get the approval from the government. The process has not yet started and once something happens, then we will update,” he said.
Another room at the poet’s house in VV Mohalla
It may be recalled, English novelist R.K. Narayan’s house on Vivekananda Road in Yadavagiri has been converted into a museum by the MCC last year. Once Kuvempu’s house is converted into a museum, there will be the second pilgrimage for the literati to be lost in the world of words.
Kuvempu’s son studied in English in Engineering college in Bangaluru and migrated to Australia. All this time, Kuvempu was preaching that English to be used in schools! At rhe current price, the residents of this house will collect a very sumptuous sum indeed, just a RK Narayan’s descendants did for a crumbling house!
Should be ” Not to be used”