TanjaFreese at 01:10, 28 February 2025

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{{short description|Indian Kannada writer, folklorist, scholar}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Javaregowda
| image = De. Javaregowda.jpg
| caption =
| pseudonym = De Ja Gau
| birth_name = Devegowda Javaregowda
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1915|07|06}}
| birth_place = [[Chakkere]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2016|5|30|1915|7|6}}
| death_place = [[Mysore]], Karnataka, India
| occupation = Author, professor, vice chancellor
| awards = [[Pampa Prashasti]] (1998)<br />[[Padma Shri]] (2001)<br />[[Karnataka Ratna]] (2008)
}}
'''Devegowda Javaregowda''' (6 July 1915 – 30 May 2016), known as '''De Ja Gou''' or simply '''Javaregowda''', was an Indian [[Kannada language|Kannada]] writer, folklorist, researcher, scholar and academic. He was disciple of authors [[T.N. Srikantaiah]] and [[Kuvempu]].<ref name="gowda100"/><ref name="fast"/> His literary career spans over decades in which he wrote over thirty-four biographies in Kannada language and other works including children's literature. He campaigned for the promotion of Kannada language. He had received [[Pampa Prashasti]] (1998), [[Padma Shri]] (2001) and the [[Karnataka Ratna]] (2008) awards for his contributions in literature and education. He became a [[centenarian]] in 2015 and died on 30 May 2016.

== Early life ==
Gowda was born in a Vokkaliga family<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-06-04 |title=Meet demands Netravati water for southern Karnataka districts |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/meet-demands-netravati-water-for-southern-karnataka-districts/article3489011.ece |access-date=2025-02-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> on 6 July 1915 in the village called [[Chakkere]] in the [[Channapatna|Channapatna taluk]] of [[Ramanagara district]] in Karnataka state.<ref name="gowda100">{{cite news|title=De. Ja. Gow. turns 100|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/de-ja-gow-turns-100/article7393416.ece|access-date=30 May 2016|work=The Hindu|date=7 July 2015}}</ref> He was born in a poor family and had three siblings. As his parents could not afford to educate all, only his eldest brother went to school and Gowda would graze goats. Having passion for education, Gowda would let go goats on their own and instead come and listen to teachers from outside near a school window. He recollects that on one such day when the goats entered a wealthy landlord's farm and destroyed the crop, his father beat him and the school principal then rescued him and admitted him in third standard, also providing him with uniform and books.<ref name="Bharathi">{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=yg-qCQAAQBAJ&q=javare+gowda&pg=PA47 |title= Ordinary Feet, Extra-Ordinary Feat |pages=47–50 |author= Dr Veena Bharathi |publisher= Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. |year= 2015 |isbn= 9789384318789}}</ref>

== Education, career and activities ==
Gowda later went on to study in [[Bangalore]] for intermediate classes and completed his BA in Mysore. He wanted to do his BA with History as his major subject but opted for Kannada when he came to know that notable author [[Kuvempu]] would be teaching it. Gowda had admired Kuvempu's works long before getting associated with him as his student. After completing BA in 1941, he went on to do post graduates MA in Kannada. With little scope of getting a lectureship in any college, he took up a clerical job at the Secretariat in [[Vidhan Soudha]] at Bangalore. He concurrently studied law but did not pursue it as career when he got post of Kannada lecturer at the [[Central College, Bangalore]]. After three years, he went on to teach at [[Maharaja's College, Mysore]]. Here, he again was associated with Kuvempu and later credited him for his "academic and spiritual enrichment".<ref name="Bharathi" />

Gowda served as the [[Vice Chancellor]] of [[Mysore University]] from 1969 to 1975 for consecutive two terms. In his tenure as VC he started various post graduates courses in Home Sciences, Criminology, Law and Journalism at the university. He was known for his sharp criticism of the then government policies. While reappointing him as the VC for the second term, the then state governor [[Mohan Lal Sukhadia]] requested "please try to remember that when you criticize the government, do so mildly".<ref name="Bharathi" /> He also wished to start an Afro-Dravidian Institute of post graduate studies called "The Kuvempu Vidyavardhaka Trust", which did not happen because of inadequate government funding.<ref name="Bharathi" />

Gowda actively campaigned for promotion of Kannada language. Various encyclopaedias were published in Kannada after his efforts. Kannada was also used in examinations conducted by [[Karnataka Public Service Commission]]. He wrote over thirty-four biographies in Kannada language of eminent personalities like [[B. R. Ambedkar|Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar]], [[Ram Manohar Lohia]], [[Motilal Nehru]], [[Basaveshwara]] and more. He also wrote books for children on [[Albert Einstein]], [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Rabindranath Tagore]], [[Marie Curie]] and more. He published various books on Kuvempu and ''Soundarya Yogi Kuvempu'' narrates Gowda's experiences with Kuvempu.<ref name="Bharathi" /> In 1970 he chaired the [[Kannada Sahitya Sammelana|Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana]] which was held at Bangalore.<ref name="gowda100" />

On 31 January 2006, the [[Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi|death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi]], Gowda observed a dawn-to-dusk fast seeking [[classical language]] status for Kannada. Earlier he had fasted once before for same cause and also threatened to return his [[Padma Shri]] that was conferred on him in 2001. Eventually he did not return the award as he was hopeful of a favourable reply from the then President [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]].<ref name="fast">{{cite news|title=Javare Gowda goes on dawn-to-dusk fast|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article3247070.ece|access-date=31 January 2006|work=The Hindu|date=30 May 2016}}</ref> In 2014, ex-minister [[P. G. R. Sindhia]] requested government to confer upon him the title of poet laureate (''Rashtrakavi'') for his contributions to the Kannada language.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/Confer-Rashtrakavi-on-De-Javare-Gowda-Ex-minister/articleshow/38020861.cms | title=Confer Rashtrakavi on De Javare Gowda: Ex-minister | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=8 June 2014 | access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref>

In October 2015, Gowda and five others returned the Aralu Sahitya prize, awarded to them by the [[Kannada Sahitya Parishat]] and [[Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation]] in 2011, to protest the perceived delays into the investigation of writer [[M. M. Kalburgi]]'s death.<ref>{{cite news|title=Six Kannada Writers Return Awards Over Kalaburgi Probe Delay|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Six-Kannada-Writers-Return-Awards-Over-Kalaburgi-Probe-Delay/2015/10/04/article3061276.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122073736/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Six-Kannada-Writers-Return-Awards-Over-Kalaburgi-Probe-Delay/2015/10/04/article3061276.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 November 2015|access-date=30 May 2016|work=The Indian Express|date=4 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Six writers to return award to Sahitya Parishat|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/six-writers-to-return-award-to-sahitya-parishat/article7717470.ece|access-date=30 May 2016|work=The Hindu|date=3 October 2015}}</ref>

== Personal life and death ==
Gowda was married to Savithramma. Their son J. Shashidhar Prasad was also Vice Chancellor of University of Mysore.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/javare-gowda-fasts-for-son-shashidhar-prasads-cause/article595441.ece | title=Javare Gowda fasts for son Shashidhar Prasad's cause | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=26 August 2010 | access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref> Gowda became a [[centenarian]] in 2015.<ref name="gowda100"/> In a felicitation program organized by Kannada Catholic Christian Association on the occasion, he mentioned that he had been worshipping [[Jesus Christ]] for past 25 years along with all the Hindu Gods. He died in [[Mysore]] on 30 May 2016 from heart failure at the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research where he was admitted on 28 May.<ref>{{cite news|title=Javare Gowda passes away|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/javare-gowda-passes-away/article8668258.ece|access-date=30 May 2016|work=The Hindu|date=30 May 2016}}</ref> His last rites were performed at the Kuvempu Trust, Mysore. His body was [[Lying in repose|laid in repose]] at his residence in [[Jayalakshmipuram]] and at the Chandrakala Hospital. Politicians and writers like [[H. D. Deve Gowda]], [[H. D. Kumaraswamy]], [[S. M. Krishna]] and [[M. Veerappa Moily]] paid tributes to him.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/de-ja-gow-laid-to-rest/article8675499.ece | title=Kannada writer Javare Gowda laid to rest | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=1 June 2016 | access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref>

== Awards and accolades ==
Gowda received his first doctorate in 1975 from the [[Karnatak University]], Dharwad. In 1998, he received doctorate from [[Mysore University]] and in 2006 an honorary doctorate was accorded to him by the [[Kuvempu University]] at Shimoga. He also received [[Nadoja Award]] conferred by the [[Hampi University]].<ref name="Bharathi" /> On his centenary, a 30-minutes documentary was made by director [[Kesari Harvoo]] for the Department of Kannada and Culture.<ref name="gowda100" />

* [[Pampa Prashasti]] in 1998<ref name="pampaaward">[http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/advertise.nsf/(docid)/2A146D87BABCAD3465256940003FC045 Javare Gowda chosen for Pampa award] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716105835/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/advertise.nsf/(docid)/2A146D87BABCAD3465256940003FC045 |date=16 July 2011 }}</ref>
* [[Padma Shri]] in 2001<ref name="padmashriaward">{{cite news|title=Awards for Amjad Ali Khan, Ashoke Sen|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/01/27/stories/0227000u.htm|access-date=30 May 2016|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 January 2001}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* [[Gorur Award]] in 2003<ref name="goruraward">{{cite news|title= Gorur Award presented to D. Javare Gowda|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/15/stories/2003091502270500.htm|access-date=30 May 2016|work= [[The Hindu]]|date=15 September 2003}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* Sandesh Award in 2004<ref>{{cite news |title=Sandesh awards announced |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/13/stories/2004021313580400.htm |access-date=2 May 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=13 February 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111110137/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/13/stories/2004021313580400.htm |archive-date=11 November 2007}}</ref>
* [[Karnataka Ratna]] in 2008<ref>{{cite news|title=Karnataka Ratna Award for Javare Gowda, Veerendra Heggade|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/karnataka-ratna-award-for-javare-gowda-veerendra-heggade/article684254.ece|access-date=30 May 2016|work=The Hindu|date=16 January 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Kannada literature]]
* [[G. S. Paramashivaiah]]
* [[C. P. Krishnakumar]]
* [[C. P. Siddhashrama]]

== References==
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Javaregowda}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Karnataka Ratna]]
[[Category:People from Ramanagara district]]
[[Category:Kannada people]]
[[Category:Kannada-language writers]]
[[Category:University of Mysore alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Mysore]]
[[Category:Indian men centenarians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educational theorists]]
[[Category:Educators from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Writers from Karnataka]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian biographers]]
[[Category:Indian children's writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Heads of universities and colleges in India]]

Javaregowda - Revision history

TanjaFreese at 01:10, 28 February 2025