from our special correspondent
with inputs from various sources
Bangalore, Apr 5: Noted Kannada author Kuppalli Puttappa Poornachandra Tejaswi (70) passed of a heart attack in his Kaimara-Moodigere house in Chikmagalur district at noon on Thursday, April 5.
He was the son of another eminent Kannada writer Kuppalli Venkatappagowda Puttappa, known in short as Ku Vem Pu.
Kuppalli Puttappa Poornachandra Tejaswi (born September 8, 1938) was a prominent Kannada writer and novelist who had made a great impession in "Navya" period of Kannada literature.
At early stages of his writing career, Tejaswi wrote poems but later concentrated on short stories, novels and essays. Poorna Chandra Tejaswi had a distinguished style of writing which has heralded a new era in Kannada literature.
Early life
Tejaswi was born in Kuppalli in Thirthahalli taluk of Shimoga district. Although he is the son of "Rashtrakavi" Kuvempu, he came out of his father's shadow and established his own image at an early age.
Tejaswi received Rajyotsava Award for his first short story "Linga Banda", a look at the rainy western ghats from the eye of a young boy. After completion of his education from Maharaja college of Mysore, due to his interests in nature and farming, he bought coffee estates in Mudigere taluk of Chikmagalur District and has been residing at that place since then. Apart from literature he was actively involved in painting, photography and philosophy.
Literary works
Tejaswi had let his pen run in almost all forms of literature including poems, short stories, novels, Travel literature, plays and science fiction literature. Nature and incidents related to nature enjoy major role in most of his works. Karvalo is one such novel where the author himself participated in an adventure of discovering an imaginary flying lizard in the dense forests of Western ghats.
Even after twenty six years of its publication (published in 1980) Karvalo stays in top 10 list of Kannada books sold every week. Tejaswi had translated a number of English books to Kannada enriching the depth of Kannada literature. At present Tejaswi has been an enthusiastic follower of politics, literature and technology related happenings in Karnataka.
Further reading
K.P. PoornaChandra Tejaswi, Annana Nenapu, although not supposed to be an autobiography, Tejaswi extensively narrated his childhood and early life.
Awards
Sahitya Academy award in 1987
Kannada Sahitya Academy award in 1987
Pampa Award in 2001
Rajyotsava award
Bibliography
Collection of poems
Somuvina Swagatalahari mattu Itara Kavanagalu
Bruhannale
Novels
Mayaloka
Rudraprayagada Bhayanaka Narabakshaka
Chidambara Rahasya
Karvalo
Annana Nenapu
Jugari Cross
Swaroopa
Nigooda Manushyaru
Pseudonym
Poochante