If you have grown up in Karnataka, you would probably smile when you hear the names of Tirumalamma, KV Puttappa, or Dr GP Rajaratnam as it takes you back to your childhood.
It is with this intention, of offering today’s children the same experience, that Pratham Books launched Makkala Janapriya Sahitya, a set of five illustrated children’s books showcasing the works of five among Kannada literature’s most celebrated poets — Panje Mangesh Rao, KV Puttappa, Dr GP Rajaratnam, Dr Siddayya Puranik, and BK Tirumalamma.
Curated by author-playwright Vivek Shanbhag, the books feature everything from poems evoking nature, by Panje Mangesh Rao and KV Puttappa, to Dr Siddayya Puranik’s first poem about a boy who imagines his grandfather’s walking stick to be his horse, as well as poems on science and mathematics by Thirumalamma.
“The first thing that I kept in mind during the process was that it is important to capture the minds of the children in Kannada. In a poem, what is recorded in words is an experience. It is important to ensure this experience is linked to a language. Another criterion that I kept in mind while making the choices was to ensure that all five senses are captivated through some of those lines,” explained Vivek, adding that a poem typically captures an experience, not an idea.
“Poems aren’t always about lines that rhyme, they may often convey something that can only be experienced, not explained. I also kept in mind that I had to choose poems that aren’t necessarily popular, but are classics.”
Illustrations, he pointed out, play an important role in these books because they offer one way of ensuring that the poems remain in children’s minds. “I still remember the line drawings that accompanied some poems I read in my childhood. And Kannada is a phonetic language. Even if children know the alphabet, they will be able to pick up the language and read the poems.”
“We must recognise the contribution of literature in regional languages to our country’s rich cultural heritage. There are some works that stand the test of time and continue to be relevant in every generation. By presenting the poems in a way that will appeal to this new generation of young readers, we hope to do our part in keeping the classics alive," said Suzanne Singh, Chairperson of Pratham Books, which is known to have published over 3,000 books in 21 Indian languages. The books are available in a range of genres including early readers, fiction, non-fiction, and storybooks on science, history, mathematics, and nature.
“Since many Kannada classics are out of print and unavailable, we decided to bring them back,” added Swaha Sahoo, Head, Parag Initiative (Tata Trusts), which has collaborated with Pratham Books on this initiative.
The books have been illustrated by B G Gujjarappa, Satya Krishna Prakash, Proity Roy, Kalyani Naravane, and Adrija Ghosh. For details, call 9880819180.
