11 Facts About Chennaveera Kanavi

Chennaveera Kanavi was an Indian Kannada language poet and author.

Chennaveera Kanavi was a recipient of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award, Karnataka Rajyotsava award, and the Pampa Award.

Chennaveera Kanavi's father, Sakkareppa, was a school teacher who was noted to have taught poems from saint-poets like Nijaguna Shivayogi and Sarpabhushana Shivayogi, and other tatva-pada to the young Kanavi.

Chennaveera Kanavi completed his schooling in Dharwad and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Karnatak University in Dharwad in 1952.

Chennaveera Kanavi followed it with a Master of Arts degree from the same university, studying under the guidance of the then principal, V K Gokak, a Jnanpith award winner.

Chennaveera Kanavi started his career in the publication wing of the Karnatak University, Prasaranga, as its secretary and went on to serve the university, between 1956 and 1983, before retiring as the director of its publication wing.

Chennaveera Kanavi followed it with over 25 anthologies and 28 books across genres.

Chennaveera Kanavi's poetry spanned genres and themes including nature, friendship, love, places, and even the occasional political poetry focusing on the state of democracy.

Chennaveera Kanavi wrote in opposition to the Indian emergency between 1975 and 1977, and was a participant of the Gokak movement, a language rights movement that was launched to ensure primacy of the Kannada language in the state.

Chennaveera Kanavi was married to Shantadevi Chennaveera Kanavi, an author who wrote short stories.

Chennaveera Kanavi died at SDM Medical Hospital in Dharwad, on 16 February 2022, at the age of 93, from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, resulting as a complication of COVID-19.