Dharwad - Gateway of Learning

Dharwad, home of delicious, tongue-melting phedas and artistic Kasuti saris, is also famous as a seat of learning for at least one hundred and twenty-five years. Together with Hubli, it is the second largest city in state of Karnataka. Hubli-Dharwad city has been home of political, social, educational and economic activities for the whole of North Karnataka and the region beyond erstwhile Mysore state ruled by the Maharaja of Mysore.
History of Dharwad goes back to more than one thousand years. Two epigraphs dated 1116 and 1126 A.D. mention the place as "Darwad". According to Dr. P.B. Desai, the renowned epigraphist, the name has been derived from Sanskrit 'dwarawata'. Dwara meaning door and Wata or Wada meaning town. Actually it was gateway between mountain land (malenadu) and the plains (bayaluseeme).
In ancient times, Dharwad was capital of Halasigenadu. This region was jointly ruled by Kadamba king of Goa, Jayakeshi and his queen Mailaladevi. She was the daughter of illustrious king emperor Chalukya Vikramaditya VI in the 11th century A.D. Dharwad continued to be important trading center and a strategic town and many battles were fought for its control during Mughal and Peshwa times. It was a center of 'Southern Maratha country' a wrong nomenclature of Marathas accepted by the British for some decades, for four Kannada districts along with those of Maharashtra of Bombay Presidency.
The British were drawn by the cool and pleasant climate and developed it as camp for hunting tigers in the nearby thick forests. By 1880 there were more than a hundred European families in Dharwad who had their own clubs. Even a golf club and gymkhana club made their appearance in 1886.
Christian Missionaries followed British administrators. Basel Mission school came up in 1836. Moegling, Ziegler and Kittel were the persons who strived for development of Kannada language and literature. Grammar books, English-Kannada and Kannada–English dictionaries are their contributions.
J.J. Fleet, a revenue officer (I.C.S) brought to light hundreds of inscriptions, folk tales and ballads besides editing important Oriental periodicals. For college education, youngsters had to go to Poona. R.H. Deshpande and Aluru Venkat Rao were pioneers in creating awareness among the middle-class about the need of higher education in Dharwad itself. Karnatak College came up in 1917, by the private organized efforts. This gave boost to students who had completed studies in High Schools started by Karnataka Education Society and Lingayat Education Society (1887) Sanskrit Pathashala was run by Murugha Math. The other pathasala in traditional vedic lore, the one in Gandhichowk has been rendering service for more than two hundred years.
The training colleges for primary school teachers (for men in 1857 and for women in 1885) were the only training institution in the whole of North Karnataka for many decades. Karnataka Vidyavardhak Sangh established by R. H. Deshpande in 1890 strived hard to create awareness among commoners about greatness of their region and language. Later the movement for unification of Karnatak started in Dharwad only as also Nationalist movement. Hubli-Dharwad produced many frontline political leaders during freedom movement.
Dharwad is home of Hindustani classical music. Musicians of fame like Mallikarjun Mansur, Gangubai Hangal, Bhimsen Joshi, Basavaraj Rajguru hail from this place. More than a dozen excellent vocalists, instrumentalists and Tabla artists belong to Dharwad.
In literature also Dharwad has made name. There is a saying that you throw a stone and it hits a poet. Right from D.R. Bendre, we have any number of poets who have contributed to different branches, Navodaya, Navya Bandaya etc. Poets, writers, researchers, scholars, who have spent two or more years in Dharwad, always feel nostalgic about the place.
Seven hillocks, seven tanks and seven villages round about Dharwad, made the Old Township. Alas! No more now (year 2004). The tanks have disappeared, hillocks are bereft of vegetation, making way for concrete jungle and villages have become the suburbs of dry city called Dharwad. Water-scarcity is terrible. Even then Dharwad has retained its charm as a place of learning and music.

Dattatraya Ramachandra BendreAmbikatanaya Datta (1896-1981)

Bendre is considered as colossal of modern Kannada poetry. Progenitor of bhavgeets or lyrical poems, many veterans in both English and Kannada languages think that some of his poems deserve a place in world literature. "Bendre's poetry shows vivid imagination, grace and power of expression characteristic of the best poetry" has said Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, a great short story writer of Kannada.
Bendre was born of a culturally rich but materially very poor Chitpavan Brahmin family in 1896 in Dharwad. His Grand father was a Dasagranthi (Master of ten volumes of sacred lore) and scholar in Sanskrit classical literature. His father was also learned in Sanskrit. But he caught scrofula (TB of lymphatic glands of neck) and after twelve years of suffering and also mental illness, died when Dattatraya was twelve. His Granny (mother's mother) and mother ran a khanavali (eatery) to support and educate the family. Both the brave women left a lasting impression on this brilliant lad who later paid rare poetic tribute to his granny Godubai. He adopted the pen-name of Ambikatanayadatta (Datta, son of Ambika) after his mother and immortalized her.
Those were days of early resurgence of nationalism. Educated and traveling government employees, roving spiritual gurus and bachelors frequented Bendre Khanavali and young Bendre was exposed to various national trends. With photographic memory, he has listed the numerous rural games and folk entertainments he witnessed and played in his short autobiography. Kamankatte, where he grew, was a strange admixture of courtesans' quarters, temples, old houses of Sanskrit scholars, which housed rare books of Sanskrit, Marathi classics and a place of cultural activities of keertans and recitations. Alur Venkat Rao started his national school in this street only.
Bendre completed his primary and high school education in Dharwad and with his uncle's help completed B.A. at Ferguson College, Pune in 1918. He became a teacher in Victoria High School and got married the same year, (1919) to Laxmibai.
Reading and writing of Kannada poetry was not popular in the early decades of last century. It is strange that Bendre whose mother tongue was Marathi, and who was educated in Pune, considered the heart of Marathi culture, should turn out the promoter and pioneer of Kannada writing in North Karnataka. This region, comprising four districts of Bombay Presidency, itself was known as "Southern Maratha Country". By precept and practice he started a custom of reading old Kannada classics, started literary festivals after Pampa Vidyaranya and Santakavi, encouraged young poets to read out their compositions in such festivals. This was long before Kannada Sahitya Parishat started arranging poetry recitation (Kavi Sammelan) as part of literary conferences.
He formed 'Geleyara Gumpu' (Group of Friends) in 1922. This friends' circle, drew poets, writers, intellectuals from all over Karnataka. Many of these turned to be front line writers later. Ananda Kanda, Sham. Ba. Joshi, Siddavanahalli Krishna Sharma, Enke, G.B.Joshi, V.K.Gokak, and R.S.Mugali are only a few names of the long list. Mainly formed for the study of culture and literature, and exchange of literary ideas, the friend's started a journal 'Svadharma' and ran it for two years. 'Jay Karnataka' a premier monthly provided platform for budding writers, besides reviving fold literature including rare ballads, folk songs and traditional songs. collections of poems were published featuring twenty six poets of this region and Hyderabad State. The craving for literary togetherness brought in many new aspirants. Though the Geleyara Gumpu was disbanded in 1933, the members who came from different parts of (then) divided Karnataka, formed associations in their workplace and worked for spread of modern Kannada literature.
Bendre had his lion's share of tragedies and tribulations. He was imprisoned for alleged sedition in his poem "Narabali". House arrest in Mugad village followed. Once out, he could not get any job, being branded Anti-government. He again went to Pune and completed M.A.
Finally he got teaching assignment in Pune and Sholapur colleges. He lost six children, two of them, one eldest and the youngest within a gap of one week. Only three survived (two sons and a daughter). Poverty and tragedy did not deter him from literary pursuits. His trend-setting Sakhigeet (love lyrics), translation of Kalidasa's Meghdoot, Gari Nadaleele, Moorti all poetry collections, Nirabharana Sundari (essays and short stories) and works on literary criticism followed.It is well known that his poetic output is far less compared to his tremendous genius and mastery of vedic, classical Sanskrit, old Kannada and Marathi languages.
Keertinath Kurtakoti, G.B. Joshi and D.R. Bendre. Picture from Manohara Grintha Mala Collection
He was a visionary as is evident from his spiritual poems reflecting vedic wisdom. From such poems, down to folk-style compositions, his adoptions and inventions of meter is astounding. He used diverse technique for spiritual lyrics, classical style for sonnets and traditional as well as colloquial idiom for pastoral and folk type lyrics. Symbolism is characteristic of his poetry. His poem Butterfly (Patargitti) sung as a nursery rhyme speaks of colors of temptation. Another one 'Morning' (Mudalmaneya) becomes symbolic of all pervading peace or, the poet's yearning for it. In the "Dance Eternal" (kuniyonu bara), all diverse currents of thought meet in on great confluence. Apparently, all Bendre's poems could be set to music and abound in alliteration. But there is always hidden meaning which only trained poetic mind can decipher.
As a person Bendre was quite friendly, suave and sociable. He mixed with intellectuals and illiterate villagers on equal terms. He loved and interpreted life in different colors and late in life – in numerals. Numerology became his fad and writing esoteric and abstruse, ideas baffled his admirers.
Maharashtra was the first state to recognize Bendre's deep scholarship and awarded prestigious Kelkar Award for his work on Vitthala and other research in Marathi. Central Sahitya Academy Award and Jnanapeeth awards were bestowed. Mysore and Karnataka University honorary doctorates followed.
Karnataka Government granted a meager monthly honorarium of Rs.250/- (Rupees two hundred fifty only) to this King of Lyrics. A man of frugal habits, Bendre managed his personal expenditure within this amount till the very end. This included his surgery for cancer, in a Mumbai Hospital and funeral expenses, as per his last wish. Not a single rupee remained in his bank balance finally, his son Dr. Vaman Bendre writes. Dr. Vaman looked after his father in last years, took down whatever Bendre recited or spoke and brought out revised editions of Bendre's works, with appropriate foot- notes.
Late Professor Keertinath Kurtakoti and Dr. Vaman Bendre have brought out a volume 'Shravana Pratibhe' On Bendre's poetry. This is the 5th volume of Puta Bangara – published by Manohara Grantha Mala on the occasion of fiftieth year of its inception. Other four volumes deal with select works which are trendsetters. (Krishnanand Kamat’s travelogue Nanu Amerikege Hogidde figures in the 4th Volume).
Prof. G.S.Amur's study of Bendre 'Bhuvanada Bhagya' won him Central Sahitya Academy Award and helps readers to understand mysticism, symbolism and overall assessment of Bendre's works

Pt Kumar Gandharva (1924-1992)

ProfileBorn in 1924 in Dharwad,Shivaputra Siddramayya Kamkali, known to musical world as Pt Kuamr Gandharva, revealed prodigious talents even as a child. Thus he gave his first public performance at the age of 10 years. Later his talents were guided and groomed by Prof B R Deodhar. His uncanny sense of musicianship found expression through experimenation. This continued to be the keynote of his career all through his life.
The early part of his career was devoted to the reasearch of the folk music of Malwa and the region around Dewas which he had made his home. His intense reaseach resulted in the innovation of new ragas which proved his creative genius as a prolific composer and vaggeyakara in his own right.
In the middle of his illustrious life he was afflicted with health problems because of which one of his lungs had to be removed. Kumar Gandharva recovered to continue his musical quest and developed a very unique style of his own. Whether that will develop into the next gharana, only time will tell.

Creativity and Innovation are buzz words for the younger

Creativity and Innovation are buzz words for the younger generation. For Kushal N Seerianhalli this is hobby. His unique Hi-Tech Robotic tanker says it all.

Kushal N S student of S.D.M. College Of Engineering and technology studying in final year E&C DEPT. He pursued his hobby by rigorously. The rewards came in heap. Kushal N S has won 1st place in an International Level Robotic Competition held in Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada. Also, Kushal N S becomes the 1st Asian to win the 1st prize in the history of Ontario science centre, Canada. The competition was held on 19th and 20th of November 2005. There were participant from many countries especially from U.S.A and Canada. The competition was open to all ages and industries, there was a competitor from Iran of age 47.The award was declared based on voting system, according to which well qualified person was given right to vote the robot which was Innovative ,Creative and Interesting. By this Kushal N S won the competition with a lead of 32 votes creating an history.

Before to this Kushal N S has Bagged two 1ST prize in project presentation at MERG-05, an International conference on Information and Technology held at Bhimavarum, Eleven 1ST prize in National level competition in different states.Also, won BEST PROJECT AWARD-05,in Hosur. He also participated in Singapore robotic game-2005,held at SINGAPORE. Kushal has also defeated a robot called POOCHI in Chennai, which has a record of winning 4th place in an International conference held at Nogoya University JAPAN. The poochi has also participated in an International Conference held at New-Zealand.

Kushal has built as many as 8 ?robots as a part of his hobby. Dr D Veerendra Heggade had also presented one lakh rupees as a gesture of encouragement and travel expenditure to Cannada.

Building technology for the battlezone

MEERA SRINIVASAN

The national-level technical project organised by the ECE Association of Anna University showcased students' talent in robotics and electronics

ALL ABOUT ROBOTICS: Students explaining a project displayed at `Exhivision `06'.

My robot will counter every missile that Pakistan tests," says N.S. Kushal, a student of S.D.M. Engineering College, Karnataka. Kushal's `Hi-tech robotic tanker' was one of the projects displayed at `Exhivision `06', the national level technical project organised by the Electronic and Communication Engineering (ECE) Association of Anna University, this past week.

Demonstrating the mechanism involved in his project, Kushal explains: "The robotic tank will be connected to a server, which can be accessed online from a computer in any part of the world. The tank can be made to move in different directions," adding, "we have also incorporated the anti-missile launcher system, which will sense and transmit radiations given out by a missile launched by an enemy country." Guruprasad S. Kulkarni, B.V.B College of Engineering, Karnataka, helped Kushal with the software. The latter comes from an army background and has received several national and international awards for this project. "My dream is to get into the Indian army and operate a real tank like this," he says. Another team from PSG Tech, Coimbatore, had come with a software for a scientific digital calculator, which would incorporate matrices (4 x 5 and 5 x 5) and simultaneous equations with four unknowns.

Final-year students short-listed about 58 projects from nearly 80 registrations. Hundreds of students from various colleges all over India participated in the technical fest. Besides these, a couple of host projects done by students of Anna University were displayed. Second year students attempted an e-room where all operations would be digital. Those in thethird year had made a voice-controllable robot that would respond to oral commands. As part of the fest, several technical sessions including lectures and interactive discussions with members from the academia and industry were organised.

"My robot will counter every missile that Pakistan tests," says N.S. Kushal, a student of S.D.M. Engineering College, Karnataka.

Kushal's `Hi-tech robotic tanker' was one of the projects displayed at `Exhivision `06', the national level technical project organised by the Electronic and Communication Engineering (ECE) Association of Anna University, this past week.

Demonstrating the mechanism involved in his project, Kushal explains: "The robotic tank will be connected to a server, which can be accessed online from a computer in any part of the world. The tank can be made to move in different directions," adding, "we have also incorporated the anti-missile launcher system, which will sense and transmit radiations given out by a missile launched by an enemy country." Guruprasad S. Kulkarni, B.V.B College of Engineering, Karnataka, helped Kushal with the software. The latter comes from an army background and has received several national and international awards for this project. "My dream is to get into the Indian army and operate a real tank like this," he says.

Another team from PSG Tech, Coimbatore, had come with a software for a scientific digital calculator, which would incorporate matrices (4 x 5 and 5 x 5) and simultaneous equations with four unknowns.

Final-year students short-listed about 58 projects from nearly 80 registrations. Hundreds of students from various colleges all over India participated in the technical fest.

Besides these, a couple of host projects done by students of Anna University were displayed. Second year students attempted an e-room where all operations would be digital. Those in the third year had made a voice-controllable robot that would respond to oral commands.

As part of the fest, several technical sessions including lectures and interactive discussions with members from the academia and industry were organised.

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The twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad are located at a distance of around 420 km north of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka state and 550 km south of Mumbai. Hubli is a major city of the Dharwad district and is a famous industrial town. This historic town was known as Raya Hubli and also as Elaya Puravada Halli during the ancient times. This city metamorphosed into an important commercial centre for trade in cotton and iron during the reign of the Vijaynagara Empire. The city is noted for its handloom textile units and has many cotton ginning and processing mills.The district has some important monuments like many beautiful temples, churches, mosques, and monasteries that are worth a visit. Not to be missed are also the delicious pedas, a sweetmeat that’s a specialty of the district.

Hubli-Dharwad or Hubli-Dharwar , city (1991 pop. 648,298), Karnataka (formerly Mysore) state, SW India. It is located on the main Bombay-Bangalore railway and highway. The cities of Hubli and Dharwad, 13 mi (21 km) apart, were incorporated as one city in 1961. Dharwad is the district administrative center for a rice- and cotton-growing area. Hubli is a trade and transportation center, with cotton and silk factories, railway workshops, and a major newspaper industry. It is built around an 11th-century Hindu stone temple. Dharwad grew up around a fort thought to have been built in 1405 by an officer of the Hindu king of Vijayanagar. It was captured by the Muslims in 1685 and by the Marathas in 1753. Hyder Ali, ruler of Mysore, occupied Dharwad in 1778. It was ceded to the British in 1818. There are many colleges in the metropolitan area, making it an education center for S India.