Dattātreya Rāmachandra Bēndre (31 January 1896 - 26 October 1981), popularly known as Da Rā Bēndre, is generally considered the greatest Kannada lyric poet of the 20th century[1][2][3] and one of the greatest poets in the history of Kannada literature. [1] A pioneering poet of Kannada’s Navōdaya movement and a leading figure in the linguistic renaissance of Kannada in the region of North Karnataka (then part of the Bombay presidency), Bendre forged a new path in Kannada literature and modern Kannada poetry through his original use of desi Kannada, particularly Dharwad Kannada - the form of Kannada spoken in the North Karnataka region of Dharwad. The richness, originality, and euphony of his poetry, his preternatural feel for the Kannada language, and his charismatic personality would result in him being hailed as a Varakavi (~ heaven-touched poet) by the Kannada people. In a poetic journey that spanned almost 70 years (~ 1914 - 1981), Bendre engaged continuously in what he called Kāvyōdyōga or 'The High Yoga of Poetry'.
From very early on, Bendre published his poetry as Ambikātanayadatta (lit. 'Datta, son of Ambika'). Often mistaken for a pseudonym or pen name (in the western sense), Bendre described Ambikatanayadatta as the "universal inner voice" within him that dictated what he, Bendre, then presented in Kannada to the world.[4]
In 1973, Bendre was awarded the Jnanapitha, India's highest literary award, for his 1964 poetry collection, Naaku Tanti (ನಾಕು ತಂತಿ) (lit. 'Four strings').[5] Recognized as Karnataka's Kavikula Tilaka ("Crown-jewel among Kannada Poets") by Udupi's Adamuru Matha, he would also be called a Kāvya Gāruḍiga (~ poet-sorcerer) [6] for his ability to create magical poetry. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1968 [7] and made a fellow of the Sahitya Akademi in 1969.[
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