About the event

Azim Premji University presents a talk on ​‘Kumaravyasa’s Poetic Brilliance’ by poet and scholar Dr Shatavadhani R Ganesh on 22 May 2026 at the Indian Institute of World Culture, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru. This is part of the Samskruti Sambhrama series, which celebrates Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage. 

‘Karnataka Bharata Kathamanjari’ (Gadugina Bharata) is composed by the celebrated Kannada poet Naranappa (pen name: Kumaravyasa, 1419 – 46). The work is known for its use of sophisticated metaphors, characterisation, stylistic richness of the verses, and the distinctive use of literary embellishments (alankaras).

About the speaker 

R. Ganesh, a renowned multilingual scholar and a polyglot, is widely acclaimed for his mastery of Avadhana,  an ancient Indian performative art of extreme concentration, memory, and spontaneous poetic creation. He is also an accomplished speaker on art, culture, literature and philosophy. Kannadadalli Avadhana Kale, Shatavadhana Sharade, Samanya Dharma, Shatdarshana Sangraha, Alankara Shastra, etc. are his major works in Kannada. Anveshanam (a one-act play), Sambalahari, Antahkanti (a novel on the last days of Swami Vivekananda),etc., are his major works in Sanskrit.  He has been honoured with the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award (1992), Sediyapu Award (2010), Honorary Doctorate from Tumkur University, and Padma Bhushan (2026).

Join us to celebrate the rich cultural and literary tradition of Karnataka.