DC urges students to imbibe Kannada poet Pu.Ti.Na.’s values

Mandya Deputy Commissioner Kumar on Tuesday called upon students to imbibe the values, ideals and thoughts of noted Kannada poet Purohit Thirunarayana Narasimhachar (Pu.Ti.Na.), while also highlighting the need to cultivate the reading habit and understand the land, language, tradition and history.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 121st birth anniversary programme of the poet, organised by the Kannada and Culture Department in association with Dr. Pu.Ti.Na. Trust (R), Melukote, and Mandavya First Grade College in Mandya.

Dr. Kumar said the ideals of Pu.Ti.Na. and other great personalities should be passed on to children. He described Pu.Ti.Na. (1905-1998) as a prominent poet, lyrical dramatist and scholar of the Kannada Navodaya period, hailing from Melukote, with deep knowledge of Sanskrit and English.

He emphasised that students must study Pu.Ti.Na.’s literary and professional life, understand the emotions reflected in his works, and learn to interpret literature in its various forms.

Referring to Mandya as an agrarian district, he said it has also made notable contributions to literature, with many poets enriching society and earning the region a distinct place in the literary world.

He added that Pu.Ti.Na.’s spiritual thoughts and exceptional writings strengthened this legacy.

Appreciating efforts to guide the younger generation, he noted that personalities like Prof. Krishne Gowda continue to contribute to literary and cultural life even after retirement, helping instil social values among children.

Speaking on the occasion, former Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Meera Shivalingayya said that Pu.Ti.Na., a leading figure of the Kannada Navodaya movement, brought a new dimension to devotional and lyrical literature through works such as Yadugiriya Veene and Gokula Nirgamana. “Music was central to his plays, which carried deep spiritual themes, and that his samadhi has now been developed into a garden.”

Pu.Ti.Na. authored several notable works including Hannathe, Hamsa Damayanti and Ahalya, and was honoured with the Padma Shri and the Sahitya Akademi Award. He also presided over the 60th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, she said.

Dr. Pu.Ti.Na. Trust president Prof. M. Krishne Gowda, writer Jogi, Karnataka Sangha’s Dr. Jayaprakash Gowda and others were present.

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