Profile
1915 January 26th
Birth
Kikkeri Subbarao Narasimhaswamy’s birth at Kikkeri, Mandya district, Karnataka to Subbarao and Hosaholalu Nagamma.
1921-1928
Middle School
Studies at Mysore Training College’s Primary and Middle School.
1928-1931
Graduation
Enrolls and graduates from Maharaja High School, Mysore.
1931
First Kannada poem
January 14th– First Kannada poem Kabbigana Koogu (The Poet’s Song) published by Mysore University magazine Prabuddha Karnataka. Enrolls for Pre-Engineering at Intermediate College, Mysore and later influenced by B.M. Shrikantiah’s Kannada for Common Man Movement, joins B.A. at Central College, Bangalore.
1936
Marries Venkamma,
Marries Assistant Commissioner Bhima Rao’s daughter Venkamma, T.N. Shrikantiah blesses the couple with his Olume (Affection), the first book of love poems in Kannada. Works as the co-editor of a local newspaper Vishwa Karnataka.
1937 August 26th
Government Job
Gets a government job and sets up a family at Mysore.
1942 January 14th
Mysura Mallige
Mysura Mallige gets a rousing reception by scholars at Mysore Maharaja College Grounds.
1943
Devraj Bahadur award
Receives Devraj Bahadur award from the Maharaja of Mysore.
1945 June
Iravata
Iravata (The Divine Elephant) is published. Financial difficulties compel him to sell the rights of Mysura Mallige for Rs. 400 and later Iravata too, for Rs. 200.
1947
Deepada Malli
Third collection Deepada Malli (The Lady with the Lamp) is released.
1949
Ungura
Fourth collection Ungura (The Ring) is published, wherein he further moves towards introspective poems.
1952
Iruvantige
Fifth collection Iruvantige (A Kind of Jasmine) is released
1954
Transferred to Bangalore
Transferred to Bangalore and interacts with Prof. V. Sitaramaih, gets introduced to modern English litterateurs.
1958
Radio Kavi Sammelan
Participates in Delhi Radio Kavi Sammelan and releases Shilalathe (The Stone Creeper).
1958
Maneyinda Manege
Maneyinda Manege (From One House to Another) speaks about Earth, God, man, old-age, time and death. His poetry characterized by rich visual images, blends with symbolism in the post modern period.
1961
Financial restraints.
Sells his house at Jayanagar, Bangalore due to financial restraints.
1970 January 31
Retired from service
Retires from Karnataka Housing Board.
1972
Karnataka Sahitya Akademi
Works as editor of Karnataka Sahitya Akademi’s publications.
1974
Karnataka State Sahitya Akademi award
Receives Karnataka State Sahitya Akademi award for Tereda Baagilu
1976 December
Tereda Baagilu, which sells 400 copies
The doors of poetry opens again after a sixteen year hiatus with Tereda Baagilu, which sells 400 copies on the first day itself. Written in a deceptively simple manner begins with familiar questions on individual and family and later diversifies into society and country in the manner of Ezra Pound’s Cantos and Eliot’s Waste Land.
1978
Central Sahitya Akademi award
Receives Central Sahitya Akademi award for Tereda Baagilu.
1982
Audio cassette
Audio cassette of his poems is brought out by popular composers Mysore Anantha Swamy and C. Ashwath
1983
Nava Pallava
Nava Pallava (The New Sprout)
1986
Malligeya Maale
A compilation of all his poems Malligeya Maale (A Garland of Jasmine) is released.
1987
Kerala’s Kumaran Ashaan
Receives Kerala’s Kumaran Ashaan award.
1990
All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelan
Presides as the Secretary of 60th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, Mysore.
1991
Golden Jubilee year
The Golden Jubilee year of Mysura Mallige is celebrated with great fanfare at Chowdiah Smaaraka Bhavan, Bangalore.
1992
National Award
Receives the National Award for Best Lyrics for the film Mysura Mallige, woven around his poems. Honoured with Doctorate in Literature from Bengaluru University.
1993
Dundu Mallige
Dundu Mallige (The Cherubic Jasmine) is released.
1996
Masti Prashasti
Masti Prashasti , Honorary Fellowship of Central Sahitya Akademi . Eye sight deteriorates.
1997
Pampa Prashasthi
Pampa Prashasthi for Dundu Mallige (The Cherubic Jasmine).
1999
Honorary Fellowship
Recieves the Honorary Fellowship of Central Sahitya Akademi, Navila Dhvani (The Voice of the Peacock) is released.
2000
Sanje Haadu
Sanje Haadu (The Evening’s Song) is released, receives Gorur Sahitya Prashasthi (2000).
2001
Kaimarada Nelalalli
Kaimarada Nelalalli (In the Shadow of the Hand Post) is released, gets back the copyright of Mysura Mallige, KSN rejoices with wife Venkamma, ‘The child who left us 60 years back, has come home now!’
2002
Ede Thumba Nakshatra
Ede Thumba Nakshatra (A Heart Full of Stars) is published.
2003
Deepa Saalina Naduve
The poet’s swan songs- Deepa Saalina Naduve (Among Rows of Lighted Lamps) and Mounadalli Maatu Hudukutta (Searching for Speech in Silence) is brought out, falls at home in July end, gets operated on 15th August. In November Haadu Hase (Songs and Drawings) – selected Songs from his collection are released.
29th December 2003: 2:30 A.M.
Passed away peacefully
(Pushya Shudha Panchami) dies peacefully at home.