Kuppali Puttappa Poornachandra Tejaswi (Kannada: ಕುಪ್ಪಳಿ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ ಪೂರ್ಣಚಂದ್ರ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ) (Sep 8, 1938 - Apr 5, 2007^[1]) was a prominent Kannada writer and novelist who has made a great impession in "Navya" period of Kannada literature and inaugurated the bandaya or "protest literature" with his short-story collection Abachoorina Post Offisu.

At early stages of his writing career, Tejaswi wrote poems but later concentrated on short stories, novels and essays. Poornachandra Tejaswi has a distinguished style of writing which has heralded a new era in Kannada literature.^[2]

Early life[link]

Tejaswi was born on September 8, 1938 in Kuppali in Shimoga district of Karnataka. Although he was 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 moved to Mudigere taluk of Chikmagalur District after buying a coffee estate. Apart from literature he was actively involved in painting, photography and philosophy.

Literary works[link]

Tejaswi has 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 participates in an adventure of discovering a flying lizard in the dense forests of Western ghats. Even after twenty six years of its publication (published in 1980) it stays in top 10 list of Kannada books sold every week.^{[citation needed]} Tejaswi has translated a number of English books to Kannada enriching the depth of Kannada literature.

Further reading[link]

• PoornaChandra Tejaswi, Annana Nenapu, although not supposed to be an autobiography, Tejaswi extensively narrates about his childhood and early life.
• ನನ್ನ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ (Nanna Tejaswi) is a book written by Poornachandra Tejaswi's wife, which gives a comprehensive insight to Tejaswi's life & life style

Awards[link]

• Sahitya Academy award in 1987
• Kannada Sahitya Academy award in 1987
• Pampa Award in 2001
• Rajyotsava Award

Bibliography[link]

Collections of poems[link]

• Bruhannale Somuvina Swagatalahari mattu Itara Kavanagalu

Novels[link]

• Abachurina Post Office
• Chidambara Rahasya
• Jugari Cross
• Karvalo
• Mayaloka: 1
• Millennium series (volume 1 to volume 16)
• Nighooda Manushyaru
• Pakakranthi

Photo Album[link]

• Maayeya Mukhagalu

Others[link]

• Vyakti Vishishta Siddantha
• Vimarsheya Vimarshe
• Hosha Vicharagalu (coming soon)

Biography[link]

• Annana Nenapu

Short story collections[link]

• Parisarada Kate
• Huliyoorina Sarahaddu
• Abachoorina Post Office
• Tabarana Kate
• Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu
• Kadina Kategalu (Volume1 to Volume4)
• Linga banda
• Panjrolliya Pischachia Savaalu
• Gudugu Heliddenu
• Urvashi
• Gandhiji Deseinda
• Swaroopa
• Nigoodha Manushyaru
• MaayaMruga
• Rahasya Vishwa

Translated Works[link]

• ರುದ್ರ ಪ್ರಯಾಗದ ಭಯಂಕರ ನರ ಭಕ್ಷಕ (Rudraprayagada Bhayanakara Narabhakshaka) translated from 'The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag: OUP/UK 1948 - Jim Corbett'
• 'The Long Walk' translated as ಮಹಾ ಪಲಾಯನ (maha palayana)
• Papillon 1 & 2
• ಕಾಡಿನ ಕಥೆಗಳು (Kaadina Kathegalu),Kenneth Anderson's huntings of Man eater animals - in 4 volumes.

Travel literature[link]

• Alemariya Andaman mattu Mahanadi Nile

Plays[link]

• Yamala Prashne

Science and nature writings[link]

• Missing Link
• Hakki Pukka
• kannada nadina Hakkigalu: PartI-Minchulli and PartII-Hejjemudada hadi
• Vismaya (Volume1 to Volume3)
• Flying Saucers (Volume1 to Volume2)
• Sahaja Krushi
• Nadeyuva kaddi haaruva yele
• Kadina kathegalu volume1 to volume4
• Aeroplane Chitte Mattu Itara Kathegalu
• At the end of the millennium Tejaswi has undertaken a gigantic task of bringing some of the greatest works of twentieth century, written in other world languages to Kannada. The collection of publishing were called the Millennium series. It is in volume1 to volume16

Tejaswi's works in visual media[link]

Movies[link]

• Abachoorina Post office
• Tabarana Kate
• Kubi mattu Iyala

Plays[link]

• Jugari Cross
• Chidambara Rahasya
• Krishnegowdana Aane
• Yamala Prashne
• Maayamruga

Death[link]

Poornachandra Tejaswi died of cardiac arrest at his farm house Niruttara, Mudigere in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka state, on April 5, 2007 approximately at 2.00 p.m.^[1] He was 69 at the time of death.

Trivia[link]

• Tejaswi heralded a new wave, when he (with like-minded friends) compiled Kuvempu's Sri Ramayana Darshanam in Kuvempu's handwriting. Government of Karnataka too aided the effort with grants, but the cost of the book was high and ended up with mediocre success.

• A controversy started in early 2004 demanding inducting Madhwacharya's name in Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate, written by Kuvempu. Tejaswi, as son of Kuvempu and holder of copyrights of Kuvempu's articles strongly criticized any attempts to change the poem.

• While some intellectuals condemned the daubing incident of Belgaum Mayor Vijay More's face with black paint on Nov 11 2005, Tejaswi rhetorically asked if Mr. More deserved Fair & Lovely instead.

• Tejaswi was renowned for his interests in wild-life. He had a great appetite and was known for his fondness for good-food.

See also[link]

• Kannada
• Kannada literature

References[link]

External links[link]

• TEJASWI VISMAYA - To Realize Poornachandra Tejaswi's Life - Literature - Thoughts
• Poornachandra Tejaswi at the Internet Movie Database
• Pampa Award to Tejaswi in 2001