Waves Of Change: Contributions Of Women To Kannada Literature

Abstract

If we look at the history of Kannada Literature of one thousand five hundred years ago till the beginning of the 20th century, there is not much literature written by women that can be recognized as women's literature. Women were deprived of education and were not given many opportunities to participate in public life in a male dominated social system. A life of dependence without freedom was predominant for women. Due to many such reasons women have not been able to find their unique place in the mainstream of Kannada Literature for a long time. It is only in the 20th century that we see creative women being recognized.

Since the time of Satavahanas, women undertook jobs in administration, affairs of the state etc. It is known that Vijayamahadevi, a Sanskrit scholar, was a great poetess and the daughter of Chandraditya, the son of Pulakesi of Badami Chalukya. Vijayamahadevi wrote the play Kaumudi Mahotsava.

In Kannada literary history, the name of a Jain woman named Attimabbe is famous. She built 1500 “Jina basadis” and idols of Jina thereby earning the title of “Dana Chintamani”. Kavi Ranna wrote the poem Ajita Purana. Ponna wrote and made a thousand copies of Shanti Purana and donated them.

In the 12th century, the contribution of Vachana Karthis in Vachana Literature was immense. For the first time, women also responded to literary creation and cultural change. Women like Akkamahadevi, Gangamma, Sulesankavva, Lakkavve etcetera participated in Kannada Vachana Literature without discrimination.

Yet in the beginning of the 20th century, women who had been schooled entered the field of literature with some interest such as Thirumalamba, Shantabhai Nilagara etcetera.