Dr. Devanahalli Venkataramanayya Gundappa

D.V.Gundappa (DVG), born in 1889, was a matriculate who started working as a journalist at the age of 16. Two years later, he was publishing his own newspaper. He went on to become a titan of Kannada literature, writing on subjects that covered philosophy and literature, sociology and history

DVG obtained fundamental education in Kannada as well as English, while learning Sanskrit on his own. Although his formal education did not proceed beyond high school, his works have been serving as graduate study material. antahpura geetegaLu, baaLigondu nambike, jeevana dharma yoga, jnyaapaka chitra shaale, maruLa muniyana kagga, samskruti, umarana osage …. are some of his well known works, mankutimmana kagga is undoubtedly the crown jewel. It is not uncommon to find that there is hardly any aspect of life that this work does not touch. Hailed as the common man’s Bhagavad-Gita by many – for simplicity of language, vastness, greatness and poetic flow of content – scope and understanding of almost every verse from this work seems to grow richer and deeper with one’s own experience in life.

Mankuthimmana Kagga is one of the most famous and popular major literary works in Kannada, composed by Dr. D. V. Gundappa, and published in 1943. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece among the Kannada speaking population in southern India. DVG is known for his simplicity and high thinking. This Kagga triggers thought process for everybody irrespective of the individuals knowledge level. Its meaning assumes wider dimensions as one repeatedly reads it. The verses are very practical, straight, rich in moral values, not confined any religion, caste or creed. It need not be read in any order . One can choose to read it randomly . Because they are called ” Muktakas”.

The following are the chief characters of “Kagga”
1. All are 4 lines (Chowpadi Rachanegalu).
2. All are in (Aaadi praasa) means 2nd word of every line is the same in all the four lines.
3. They are called “Muktaka galu”. Independant verses.
4. They all end with the ankitan naama ” Mankutimma”.


One day my co-brother Mr. Sridhar Babu handed over the cassettes of the discourse of Mankuthimmana Kagga in Kannada by Swami Brahmananda, the head of Chinmaya Mission, Bangalore. After listening to the discourse I learnt the way of life & the true meaning of life. Mankuthimmana Kagga which is called the modern Bhagavad-Gita is considered a Noble prize winning material, if it had been written in English. The greatness of this work is that it makes the reader see himself through the poems, to interpret the thoughts of the poet in his own way. The philosophy hidden in these short 4 liners is suited for any section of the society regardless of their religion, status, qualification etc. Basically it is for the entire humanity, such is the vastness and depth of DVG’s most of the literary works.

Martin Luther King popularly know as as the "Gandhi of America" was influenced by the writings of D.V.G and had met him in 1960 at his residence in Nagasandra Road.

It is also available on web to download - http://www.brahmanandaji.blogspot.com/2007/09/dvgs-manku-timmana-kagga.html


Sreeram Manoj Kumar