Basappa Bagali

Basappa Siddappa Bagali born on April 27, 1916 in Bilagi, Bagalkot district, completed his primary school in Bilagi and joined Govt. high school in Vijayapur.

He skipped the inter examination due to financial issues. Since he was not able to continue his studies, he got frustrated and left to Mumbai. He met Barrister Sawarkar there, listened to his counsel, and decided to join the British Indian Army rather than fight for independence. The harassment by British to Indian persons was intolerable. However  Basappa was detained and sent to Singapore Jail during the Second World War.

The negotiations between Subhash Chandra Bose and the Tojo-led Japanese government produced fruitful results, and all the detainees were freed. He entered the Indian National Academy established by Subhash Chandra Bose and joined the front line and officers' cadre after completing his training because the miseries he endured under the Britishers inspired him to serve his country.

British people were shaken by the patriotism, passion, and spirit of achieving freedom, but this did not last long due to the British people's superior military technology and physical prowess. Basappa was thus detained, imprisoned in several locations, and subjected to unrelenting torture. Ultimately, he spent more than five years being held in a small town in Bangladesh.

Due to his prolonged disappearance, he was deemed deceased i.e. he was declared as dead (missing for long time). His release came in 1946. One day after India gained its freedom in 1947, he visited his village and ran into his relatives. In Wadi near Solapur, Basappa began working for the railway department as a station master.

He initiated the provision of basic amenities including drinking water, street lighting, and a road at the settlement of independence warriors in Vijayapur. He lived at Vijayapur for the last two decades of his life. He was spiritual, lost everything but never lost hope to live. Before he passed away, Basappa instructed his grandson, "Give happiness to everyone, serve everyone, that should be your life's motto."

Kanthi Hanumantharaya

Kanthi Hanumantharaya was a writer, novlist, poet and drama artist. Kanthi  Basappa and Basalingamma gave birth to Hanumantharaya at Nagaral - Bilgi taluk on February 1st, 1929. 

He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Karnataka University. And B.Ed. from Mysore University, which was essential for teaching professiony. 

He taught at Koppal Gavisiddeshwar Middle School in 1952, Shree Siddeshwar High School in Biligi as an assistant teacher from 1953 to 1984, Gurudev Atmanand Girls High School in Ramadurg as headmaster from 1985 to 1990, Kanakadas Girls High School in Konnur as headmaster from 1993 to 1996, and Indo-Japan Friendship Academy Casmoniketan High School in Buranpur, Vijaypur district as headmaster from 1996 to present.(1996–1988); Neelambika High School, Bilagi, Headmaster (1999-2001).

 In addition to becoming a teacher, Hanumantaraya worked as a playwright, actor, and stagehand. In 1950, his two essays, Devata and Vidhava, were published in the Taranga monthly journal. Two further tales: Kusuma and Pramileya Swayamvara were published in the 1950 issue of Kalpana, a monthly publication. 

In addition to Lord Siddeshwar of Bilagi and Lord Maruteshwar of Kambagi, hymns and devotional melodies of Lord Digambereshwara of Nagaral were also issued on cassettes.

Five dramas have been published by him, namely, Mangalagouri, Sindhoor Lakshmana, Madayyana Magalu, Guru Shodhane and Basavanna Belagida Belaku. Kombu appeared as compilation of poems and Honyal Desgati as a novel. Sindhoor Lakshman, Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna and Veerapatni appeared in Aakashavaani and Television.

 

The following are notable articles regarding Rangabhoomi: 

1. How to continue in the profession of Rangabhoomi-published in Smarana Sanchike, Ranga Basinga
2.  Equality between professional Rangabhoomi and amateur Rangabhoomi - published in Smarana Sanchike, Kallusakkari.
3. Stage tradition of Bagalkot district- published in Chalukya Siri
4. Present problems of Rangabhoomi-published in Smarana Sanchike, Krishna Prabhe
5. Rangabhoomi and Bilagi Taluka- published in Samarasya
6. Evolution in drama theatre profession- An article presented in state level gathering of artists held in Ilkal.
7. About theatres- published in Vrittiranga Bhoomiya Vartamanada Savaalugalu
8. Bagalkot Jilla Darshan – Chief Editor of the book.

Hanumantaraya wrote the theatre scripts listed below: Bhagyamandira, Chinnada Sara, Bahaaddoor Ganda, Shobha Raani, Kadlimatti Kashibai, Ee Maneya Sose, Police Inspector, Factory Manager, Ninage Nannaani, Garud Rekhe, Goudru Bandru Goudru, Naanu Mukhandanaaguve, and Shala Shiksaka.

The screenplays for the monoplay dramas Sunkada Katte, Veera Viragini, and Namma Shaleya Samaramba were written by Hanumantaraya.

Hemaraddi Mallamma(Role of actress), Paaduka Pattabhisheka, Black Market, Maataanga Kanya, Deepadaana, Bhagya Mandira, Veera Abhimanyu(role of actress), Satya Sankalpa(role of actress), Badatanada Bhoota, Kunkuma, Kaanchana Mruga, and Bahaddoor Ganda were among the dramas in which Shree Hanamantaraya appeared in the acting capacity.

Role played in Monoacting: Motar Maarika, Howharida Harishchandra, and Nadumaneyalli. 

The following conferences are chaired by Shree Kanthi Hanamantaraya:

1. The Kalavida Sammelana, which took place at Naavalagi in August 2007.

2.  Third Kannada Sahitya Sammelan held in Badami during March 2011 

Awards:

1.  Vijayapur Jilla Kannada Rajyostava Prashasti in 1995.

2.  Kannada Rajyostava Rajya Prashasti in 2014

3.  Honorary Fellowship (from the Karnataka Academy during 2000)

4.  Naataka Ratna (2012)

5.  Devara Daseemayya & Rashtreeya Ratna in 2014

The world of Kannada literature lost his son on 09.06.2021

Krishnamoorthy Puranik

Krishnamoorthy Puranik (5 September 1911 – 12 November 1985) was an Indian writer and poet who wrote in Kannada. He was the principal of a government high school in Gokak and was awarded the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award for his work Mannina Magalu (Daughter of the Soil). 

On September 5, 1911, in Bilagi, Krishnamoorthy Puranik was born to Tammanna Shastree and Lakshmi Bai. This was a traditional poor Brahmin family interested in the traditional songs sung in the temples. 

Krishnamoorthy completed his primary education in Bilagi and then enrolled to high school in Bagalkot where he used to receive food from kind individuals who fed the underprivileged pupils. In Kannada they call them as Varada mani hudugaru. 

When he was 14 years old, he met an 18-year-old widow during his high school years who had lost her husband just a year before. She was so limited to staying exclusively in rooms with low lighting. She had never been in contact with anyone else and had never seen the sun. This caused him to reflect and reform society's social norms. Such circumstances eventually became a major theme in his book, poetry, etc.  

After graduating from Karnataka College, he met several people, including Bendre, Betageri, and Gokak. He joined Municipal High School as a Kannada teacher in the year 1935 and the same year he got married with Ganga. 

His approach to literature was quite methodical..  He published Ramoona Kathegalu in the year 1946, Baal Kanasu 1947. The first novel, Mugila Mallige published in the year 1948.

 

He wrote constantly. With his earnest and diligent efforts, he was able to produce 116 books totaling 19,879 pages. Of them, 80 were novels, 12 collections of short stories, 11 poetry plays, and 8 works of children's literature. Instead of using his imagination, he was getting close to the events, being involved, and using that to make things happen. He brought his sentiments into actuality and engaged the readers in the issue.

Some of his writings were made into successful Kannada and Tamil movies. Of the eleven, Anireekshitha(1970), Bhageerathi(1969), Halunda Thavaru(1994), Hoo Bisilu(1971), 

Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu(1962), Kulavadhu(1963), Mannina Magalu(1974), Pavana Ganga(1977),Sanaadi Appanna(1977), Suli(1978), etc. are the prominent cinemas. 

In 1959, he received his first Award for the book Mannina Magalu (Daughter of the Soil); At 1969, Taralabalu Jagadguru delivered the Kadambari Sree award; in Hubballi, all of his admirers gave him "Kadambari Darshan" when he turned 60. 

Krishnamoorthy Puranik passed away on November 12, 1985, at the age of 74, yet his commitment to our Kannada literature has made him immortal.

Kandagal Hanamantaraya

On January 11, 1896, Shree Hanamantaraya was born in Kandagal (in the Bilagi taluk) to Shree Bheemarao and Shreemati Gangubai. His interest was in folklore songs, bhajana, theatre, etc., even though his parents wanted him to get the academic credentials to work in government departments.

He began attending all the theatres for plays instead of going to school, and subsequently he began composing plays.  He wrote "Paroo" and "Tarale Toppige" to perform during Ganesh Chavati- festival, earning him a prize from F.G. Halakatti in 1965. Even after joining the military, his enthusiasm in play(dramas and theater) did not go down.

He was the manager, owner, etc. of Drama Company and was familiar with every facet of it. He founded the "Shree Krishna Nataka Company" at Vijayapur and staged his own play, "Sandhya Raaga." Mudaveedu Krishnaraya and Aloor Venkataraya appreciated it since it was extremely successful in both Vijayapur and Dharawad. Hanamantaraya's enthusiasm in dramas prevented him from working in the banking sector either. His participation as a director in the Yallubai drama "Sandya Raaga," which was successful even in south Canara  also.

Then he joined as a manager in “Vaani Vilas Naataka Company”, played “Raja Harishchandra” and “Vara Pradhana” got highest appreciation from the audience. With this experience, once again he established “Lalit Kaloddaraka Naataka Mandali”  and played Varapradan  of “Punya Prabha and Akshayamba”.  Famous stars like Siddramappa and Ameerbai acted in these plays also. Raktaraatri, Kurukshetra and Badatanada Bhoota, dramas written by Kandagal Hanumantaraaya, brought success to Siddaramappa.

He wrote “Badatanada Bhoota”. Subsequently, this company reached even Hyderabad and he was honoured as “Shakespeare of Karnataka” by “Sir Siddappa Kambali”. 

Hanamantaraya has authored 36 dramas, according to the information that is currently available. 12 of these are Pouranika, 2 are historical, and 8 are social.  14- dramas are in the form of manuscripts (8-ekaanka and six are mooranka). Mahadev Kanavi wrote a booklet, “Kandagal Smriti”, Dr Sriram Ittannavar edited it. Then, Shree Alagi wrote a book on Kandagal Hanamntaraya. 

To honour him: A drama theatre has been started in Guledagudda and Vijayapur and Smaraka Vedike in Bilagi.

   

Goharbai Karnataki or Miss Gohar of Bijapur

Hussain Khan, a tabla player from the little hamlet of Bilagi, had six daughters. Allamma (Ahilya) was the first, followed by Amirbai, Gauhar (born in 1908), badi Munni, Chhoti Munni, and Nanhi Munni. And a Son, and his name was Dastgir. 

 

Gauhar (Gauramma), who comes from a singing family, worked for the Vanivilas Natak mandali theatre group. Because they were close to Sangli/Miraj and Kolhapur and fell under the jurisdiction of the Bombay Presidency, Hubli, Dharwad, and Belgaum were regular locations for their theatrical company. Nilkanth Panchakshari Buwa, a blind instructor, taught Gauhar the fundamentals of classical music. Basavanna, the brother of the legendary classical vocalist Mallikarjuna Mansur, composed songs for Gauhar and played the harmonium during her performances. 

Gauhar started acting in Marathi and Hindi films. She acted, sang and also composed her own songs, but no records were brought out. Gauhar was mesmerised by the famous Marathi singer cum actor BAL GANDHARVA. She first met him in 1937, in actor Himalayawala's flat. From 1938, Gauhar remained with Balgandharva till she died in 1964.

She acted in films like Raas vilas-32, Kala Pahad and Sohni mahiwal-33, Kala vagh and Shak karta Shivaji (M)-34, Pyar ki Maar-35, Bansriwala, Gol Nishan and Graduate-36, Kala Bhoot and Chabuk swar-37, Vijay Danka-38, Hawai khatola and Swadesh sewa-46. Chabuk Sawaar-37 was a stunt film a-la Fearless Nadiya style wherein she did some stunts. 

She must have sung atleast 100 songs but since there were no records, there is no information. However, she has sung many Marathi natyageet and Bhajans.

Some of the songs sung by Goharbai: