Da Ra Bendre

Dattātreya Rāmachandra Bēndre, fondly known as Da Ra Bendre, was an eminent Kannada poet. He was born on 31 January 1896 in Dharwad, Karnataka. He hailed from a Chitpavan Brahmin family, and his father, Ramachandrabhatta, was a Vedic scholar who instilled a love of learning in Bendre during his childhood. Bendre got married to Lakshmibai when he was 23, and the couple had nine children. They shared 47 years of companionship until Lakshmibai died in 1966. Bendre is regarded as one of the most exceptional poets in the history of Kannada literature and is widely considered the greatest Kannada lyrical poet of the 20th century. His first published poem was titled Tutoori (meaning trumpet), and his early works mainly focused on earthly romanticism.

However, as his career progressed, his work delved deeper into social and philosophical issues. Some titles bestowed on him by the Kannada people are: Varakavi - a gifted poet, Kavikula Tilaka - a jewel among poets and Kavya Garudiga - a sorcerer-poet. Bendre was also considered a multidisciplinary genius. He was interested in over 102 disciplines, including Quantum Physics, Mathematics, and Human Physiology. Additionally, he was a Vedic scholar and made contributions to Vedic literature. In 1964, Bendre's collection of poems, Naaku Tanti, earned him the prestigious Jnanapitha Award, India's highest literary award.

He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1968 and made a fellow of the Sahitya Akademi in 1969. Bendre was a prolific writer and produced a vast body of work, including poetry, prose, essays, and translations. Bendre passed away on 26 October 1981 at 85, in Mumbai. However, his legacy still inspires and influences generations of Kannada poets and writers. History remembers him as one of India's greatest poets, and his contributions to literature and other fields of study have left an indelible mark on Indian cultural history.