Humanising the poet
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Though this is Tarini Chidananda's first attempt at writing, the sheer magnificence of the subject has elevated her to the level of a professional writer
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Magalu Kanda Kuvempu by Tarini ChidanandaPustaka Prakasana, Rs. 240. The three older children of Kuvempu have already left for the school. But the three-year-old Tarini (1945), the youngest, is absorbed in her own game in the garden of Udayaravi, Kuvempu's home in Mysore. Hemavati, Tarini's mother, complains to her husband. Contrary to the child's fear he walks up to her and says: "She is still a baby. Let her enjoy!"
Pleasant memories
The memoir by Tarini begins with this pleasant account of Kuvempu. The Kannada literary world looked at him as a trendsetting modern poet and the author of the epic "Sri Ramayana Darshnam", the magnificent edifice built on Valmiki Ramayana. He pays homage to Valmiki thus: "Though the rock is thine the art is mine."
To the outside world Kuvempu was an unapproachable mystic, deeply immersed in his own thoughts and works. He was rarely lonely, mostly alone. Felicitation volumes galore have appeared on him during his lifetime.
During the post-Kuvempu era the aura has deepened into a mystery creating a Kuvempu lore.
Yet, a modern rational mind would very much like to know about his personal life — as a loving husband, an affectionate father, a generous host and so on. In short one would be interested in the human side of his personality as well. The present volume eminently fits into this gap.
When his wife passed away in 1982, he wrote a letter to Tarini, who then lived in the US with her husband K. Chidananda Gowda (1942), asking her whether she could, with the concurrence of her husband, return to India to stay with him and look after the household. From then, till his death in 1994, Tarini served him as the mother and spirit of Udayaravi.
The present book is a charming account of the human side of Kuvempu.
Two select episodes need mention here. The vast spread of greenery in the front and the mysterious dome above had fascinated him since childhood.
He took special interest in the prominent star constellations like Orion, Scorpius, Ursa Major etc., and the ancient lore woven around them. He would show them to the children and explain their significance in the development of astronomy. The second one pertains to Vinoba Bhave's visit to Udayaravi (13-9-1957).
Tarini describes that divine meet as a sight worthy of the Gods — the meeting of two great followers of Sri Rama and the values he enshrined.
Simple narrative
The intimate and transparently simple narrative one reads in this book transcends the language barrier and projects a human painting of Kuvempu.
Though Tarini confessed at the outset that this is her ever first attempt in writing, the sheer magnificence of the subject has elevated her to the level of a professional writer.
I am sure this "thing of beauty" will soon go into a second edition. The innumerable print mistakes that have crept into the present volume needs to be corrected by then.
G.T. NARAYANA RAO
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