Subbanna R. Ekkundi (1923–1995) was a recipient of
Sahitya Akademi Award, National Aaward for Teacher and Soviet Land Award.
Ekkundi was born in
Ranebennur of
Haveri district
Haveri is a district in the state of Karnataka, India. As of 2011, it had a population of 1,597,668, out of which 20.78% were urban residents. The district headquarters is Haveri.
Name of the place Haveri is derived from two Kannada words "Hav ...
in the year 1923. His father was Ranganath and mother was Rajakka. He was a student of literature at
Willingdon college, Sangli
Willingdon College, Sangli, is a college named after the former Governor of Bombay, Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon, The 1st Baron Willingdon (who has later created The 1st Marquess of Willingdon). Lord Willingdon later serve ...
. At Willingdon,
V. K. Gokak and
R. S. Mugali were Ekkundi's professors. Ekkundi and
Gangadhar V. Chittal
Gangadhar Vithoba Chittal (1923–1987) was a Kannada poet and recipient of Karnataka Sahitya Academy award. He was the elder brother of Kannada writer Yashwant Vithoba Chittal.He held several administrative positions for the Government of India ...
from
Hanehalli were classmates at Willingdon. After graduating with B.A. (Hons.) Literature in the year 1944, Subbanna Ekkundi joined the
Anandashram High School, Bankikodla
Ananadasharm High School one of the oldest high schools in Uttar Kannada, was a private school located in Bankikodla-Hanehalli. Anandasharm High School is providing education from eighth standard through tenth standard (S. S. L. C). The medium of ...
as a teacher and retired as Head Master of that institute in 1977. Ekkundi was married to Indira Ekkundi from
Haveri.
In 1992, Ekkundi was awarded the
Sahitya Akademi and the
Karnataka Sahitya Akademi awards for his outstanding poetical work ''Bakulada Hoovugalu'' in
Kannada. His poem ''Ladhak Irali Nepa Irali'' which was written during the Second
Indo-China war was well received. His political sympathies were with the
Communist party. After his retirement, he was given a national award for teaching. He was the author of many works of poetry and short stories. His work is described by an entry in the Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature
Besides politics, his poetry deals primarily with traditional Indian mythological and religious themes. His ''Ubhaya Bharati'' concerns the famous debate between the Hindu philosophers
Adi Shankara and
Mandana Mishra.
In 1970, Ekkundi was given award from the Land of the Soviets.
Kannada University at
Hampi conferred a PhD degree to a student on a thesis entitled ''S. R. Ekkundi...''.
An anthology of his complete poems was released in the year 2008 in a book titled ''Bellaki Hindu''.
Article in the Hindu newspaper.
Collection of Poems
* ''Matsyagandhi'' (1975)
* ''Bakulada Hoovugalu'' (1991)
* ''Ubhaya Bharati''
* ''Subhadra''
* ''Ananda Teertha''
* ''Mithile''
* ''Kathan Kavanagalu''
* ''Havadigara Huduga''
* ''Bellakkigalu''
* ''Santana''
* Godhiya Tenegalu
* ''Parivallagalu
* Bellakki Hindu (An Anthology of Complete Poems)
Other Work
* ''Neralu'' (Collection of Short Stories)
* ''Eradu Russian Kadambrigalu'' – Translated from
Russian language, Russian to English to Kannada (fiction)
* Panjugalu
Awards
* Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Bakulada Hoovugalu
* Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for Bakulada Hoovugalu
* Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement
* Best Teacher Award
* Vardhamana Award
References
External links
Ekkunid's Photo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekkundi, S. R.
Kannada poets
Educators from Karnataka
1923 births
1995 deaths
People from Haveri district
Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Kannada
20th-century Indian poets
Poets from Karnataka
Kannada-language writers