K. S. Narasimhaswamy: Premakavi of Kannada Poetry

Dr. K. S. Narasimhaswamy (26 January 1915 – 27 December 2003) was a prominent poet in Kannada language. His most popular collection of poems Mysooru Mallige has seen more than thirty two reprints and sought as an ideal gift at a wedding to the newly married couple in Karnataka. Narasimhaswamy has been conferred many prestigious awards including Sahitya academy award and Kannada sahitya academy award. 

Early Life 

Narasimhaswamy who belongs to the Hoysala Karnataka Brahmin community was born in Kikkeri in Mandya district. He had his early education in Mysore. In 1934 he joined Central College in Bengaluru and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree. He married Venkamma in Tiptur in 1936. He often portrayed his wife as the inspiration for his poems which mainly deal with romance in married life. 

Works 

His romantic love poems, inspired by Robert Burns (whose work he translated to Kannada as Robert Burnsna Premageetegalu) were unique to the language at the time when most Kannada poetry dealt with nature and the natural world.He is considered to be part of the Navodaya movement in Kannada literature. By virtue of his innovative 'simple Kannada' poetry, Narasimhaswamy was able to bring Kannada poetry to a broad audience. Noted film director T.S. Nagabharana made a romantic film based on Mysooru mallige which went on to win several national awards. 

Awards and Honors 

Narasimhaswamy received many awards and recognitions, including the prestigious Pampa Award for Kannada literature for his poetry collection Dundu Mallige in 1997. He was the president of the 60th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in Mysore in 1991, and received the Sahitya Academy award for 'Tereda Baagilu' in 1978. He was conferred an honorary doctorate by Bangalore University and Honorary Fellowship by Sahitya Academy and Kannada Sahitya Parishat.

K. S. Narasimhaswamy's Works:

Poetry Collections 

Mysooru Mallige (1942)  (Film directed by Nagabharana in 1992)

Ungura (1942) 

Airaavatha (1945) 

Deepada Malli (1947) 

Iruvanthige (1952) 

Shilaalathe (1958) 

Maneyinda Manege (1960) 

Tereda Baagilu (1976) 

Navapallava (1983) 

Malligeya Maale (1986,2004) 

Dundu Mallige (1993) 

Navila Dani (1999) 

Sanje Haadu (2000) 

Kaimarada Nelalalli (2001) 

Ede Thumba Nakshtra (2002) 

Mounadali Maatha Hudukutha (2003) 

Deepa Saalina Naduve (2003) 

Haadu-Hase (A Collection of songs) (2003) 

Translations 

Media (1966) 

Robert Burns Kaviya kelavu Premageetegalu (1997) 

Kelavu Chinee Kavanagalu (1997) 

Prose 

Maariya Kallu (1942) 

Upavana (1958) 

Damayanthi (1960) 

Sirimallige (1990)

Premakavi K.S Narasimhaswamy's Popular Bhavageetegalu