Chapter XIII CULTURE - Government of Karnataka

Culture 503
Some of the popular ballads are Gunasagari, Sarjappa Nayakana Kathe,
Madakari Nayaka, Kitthuru Chennamma, Sangolli Rayanna, Balanagamma,
Malaya Madeswara Kavya, Manteswami Kavya, Yallammana Kavya and
Mailaralingana Kavya.
Folk theatre too has a rich tradition in Karnataka. Who, for instance, has
not heard of ‘Yakshagana’ of Coastal Karnataka, also in vogue in different parts
of Karnataka, as Doddata, Bayalata etc., Puppet theatre is another folk form,
classified into two categories as Thogalugombe and Keelugombe. The former
is shadow play with the help of leather cut into human or animal or superhuman
forms and the latter are performed with the help of dolls with movable
limbs controlled by strings by the operaters. What Interests as literature is the
narrative technique which would be quite engrossing.
And then there are a host of books on folk medicine such as ‘Padartha
Sara’, ‘Vaidyaratnakara’ etc. Many of these were brought out by, or with the
help of the royal family of Mysore.
Closely connected with folk literature are folk arts Kamsaalay, Chaudike,
Ekatari etc., and dances like Lambani dance, Patada Kunita, Nandikolu
Kunita, Veeragase, Dollu Kunita, Gorawara Kunita, Gondala, etc. These are all
connected with religious rituals, tagged with some deity, and Yakshagana and
puppet show are also of similar origin.
Govinda Pai Research Centre. Udupi (M.G.M. College) has been doing
unique documentation work, and has collaborated with a Spannish University.
In order to promote folk literature and folk arts, the Karnataka Jaanapada
and Yakshagana Academy honours the outstanding folklore scholars and the
artists every year by granting Jaanapada Tagna Award and Annual Awards.
Jaanapada Tagna Award Winners
1986 : Simpi Linganna; 1988 : Mathighatta Krishnamurthy and D.
Javeregowda; 1989: H.L. Nagegowda; 1990 : H.M. Nayak and B.B. Hendi; 1991
: Ku.Shi. Haridasa Bhat and K.R. Lingappa; 1992 : Chandrashekhara Kambara
and Mudenuru Sanganna; 1993: M. Chidananda Murthy, P.R. Thippeswamy
and N.R. Nayak; 1994 : G. Narayana, Goru Channabasappa, Devendra Kumar
Hakari, M.G. Biradara, Amrita Someshwara and C.P. Krishnakumar; 1995:
Ham.Pa Nagarajaiah, Ramegowda (Ragau), Somashekhara Imrapura and R.C.
Hirematha; 1996 : B.A. Vivek Rai, Basavaraja Malashetty and P.K. Rajashekhar;
1997 : M.M. Kalburgi, M.B. Neginahala, T.N. Shankaranarayana, O.K.
Rajendra and P.K. Khandoba; 1998: Kyatanahally Ramanna, Shanthi Nayak
and A.V. Naavada; 1999 : Nam Tapasvikumar, M.N. Vali and H.J. Lakkappa
Gowda; 2000 : Taltaje Keshava Bhatta, C.H. Mahadeva Nayak, M.T. Dhoopada,
T.S. Rajappa and M.A. Jayachandra, 2001: Siddalingaiah, William Madtha,
Shrirama Ittannavar, 2002: Channanna Valikara, B.S.Swamy, Nallur Prasad,
2003: M.G.Eswarappa, Shreekanta Kodige, Prabhakara Joshi, Since 2004, the
Jaanapada Tagna Award being stopped and awards established in the name of
B.S. Gaddagi Math and Jishampa are given to folklore scholars. Gaddagi math