Kokkare Hosahalli Shekh Haider Nissar Ahmed (5 February 1936 – 3 May 2020) was an Indian poet and writer in the

Kannada language Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native sp ...

. He was awarded the Padma Shri (2008), the Rajyotsava Award (1981) and the Pampa award for his work (2017). He became a household name for his work ''Nityotsava'' (Daily celebration), which is a poem about

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

, a piece he composed after seeing

Jog falls Jog Falls is a waterfall on the Sharavati river located in the Western Ghats running between Uttara Kannada and Shimoga districts of Karnataka, India. It is the third highest plunge waterfall in India. It is a segmented waterfall which depends ...

. He has numerous poems, translations and children's books to his credit. He is known for using simple words that resonate deeply with the public in his literary work.

Early life and education

Nissar Ahmed was born in Devanahalli in Bangalore rural. His father was a government employee. His family moved to Dodda Mavalli in Bangalore. He grew up in a Muslim colony which had about 500 Muslim families. His father admitted him to a

Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...

medium school, with the objective of easing the path for him to secure a government job. Most of the children in the neighbourhood studied

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

G. P. Rajarathnam G. P. Rajarathnam (1909–1979), known by his pen name as Bhramara ''(meaning:Bee)'', was a Kannada author, lyricist and poet in Karnataka, India. Rajarathnam was well known for composing poems for children. Nissar Ahmed, once quoted as "h ...

and

M. V. Seetharamiah Mysore Venkatadasappa Seetharamiah or M. V. See (pen name Raghava; 9 September 1910 – 12 March 1990) was an Indian Kannada language author, editor and translator. Through a career spanning over sixty years, he published over 100 works spannin ...

who were his teachers at high school. He was a post-graduate in Geology who worked as an Assistant Geologist in The Mysore Mines and Geology at

Gulbarga Kalaburagi, formerly known as Gulbarga, is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Kalaburagi district and is the largest city in the region of North Karnataka (Kalyana-Karnataka). Kalaburagi is 6 ...

before coming in touch with

Kuvempu Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa (29 December 1904 – 11 November 1994), popularly known by his pen name Kuvempu, was an Indian poet, playwright, novelist and critic. He is widely regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century. He was ...

and was invited to the

poets' meet during Dasara festival in 1959.

Teacher

He worked as a lecturer in Geology in Central College,

Bangalore Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...

and then in Chitradurga. Later, he taught in the Sahyadri First Grade College in

Shimoga Shimoga, officially known as Shivamogga, is a city and the district headquarters of Shimoga district in the central part of the state of Karnataka, India. The city lies on the banks of the Tunga River. Being the gateway for the hilly region of ...

for two terms during 1967–72 and 1975–78.

Writer

Nissar Ahmed belongs to the group of Kannada writers who excelled in Kannada literary work even though their mother tongues were not Kannada. These included

D. R. Bendre 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 and one of the greatest poets in the history of Kannada ...

, Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, N. Kasturi and also Nissar Ahmed. He is best known for Nityotsava (ನಿತ್ಯೋತ್ಸವ). The Nityotsava compilation was released in the year 1978. The Nityotsava song went on to become very famous and he eventually became a household name in Karnataka. A total of 13 albums have been published. He was the chairperson of the

Karnataka Sahitya Academy Karnataka Sahitya Academy is an autonomous organization set up by the government of Karnataka to promote Kannada literature and recognize literary merit by giving awards. It is fully funded by the Directorate of Kannada and Culture, Government of ...

between 1984 and 1987.

Literary works

Poetry * ''Nanna Nudi'' (My words) - His first poem. * ''Nityotsava'' (Daily celebration, 1968) * ''Manasu Gandhibazaru'' (Gandhibazaar in the mind) * ''Swayam Seveya Giligalu'' (Parrots of Voluntarism) * ''Anaamika Aanglaru'' (Anonymous Englishmen) * ''Sanje Aidara Male'' (The rain at five in the evening) * ''Naanemba Parakeeya'' (Me, the stranger) * ''Nimmodaniddoo nimmantagade'' (To be with you, yet not be like you; 1960) - Expression of his angst about the unhealthy competition amongst Kannada poets in the 1960s. He bemoans religious and caste discrimination that prevailed. * ''Kurigalu saar kurigalu'' (Sheep sir, Sheep; 1963) * ''Raman Sathha Suddi'' (The demise of Raman, 1970) * ''Anaataru'' (Orphans, 1972) * ''Savatiya Makkala Hage'' (Like Step-Children, 1982) - An appeal to Mother India to not treat Muslims like stepchildren and ask to forgive “the misguided ones.” * ''Shilube Yeriddaane'' - (He has Ascended the Cross, 1982) * ''Nenedavara Manadalli'' * ''Kannadada Kuvari'' * ''America, America'' - The poet calls out America for its superiority complex and critiques its role in impacting other nations in order to maintain such superiority. * ''Manadondige Mathukathe'' * ''Benne Kadda Namma Krishna'' (Our Butter stealing Krishna) - Poem in praise of the Lord Krishna. * ''Rangoli Mathhu Maga'' (Rangoli and my son) * ''Amma Matthu Burkha'' (My mother and The Burkha) * ''Amma, Achara Mattu Naanu'' (Mother, Orthodoxy and I) * ''Raman Matthu Naanu'' (C.V. Raman and I) * ''Yella Maretiruvaga'' (When everything has been forgotten) *''Navolasa'' *''Sumuhurta'' Poetry collections * ''Manasu Gandhi Bazaaru'' (The heart is Gandhi Bazaar, 1960). * ''Sanje Aidara Male'' (The rain at five in the evening, 1970). * ''Naanemba Parakeeya'' (Me, the stranger, 1972). * ''Seemateetana Sirivanta Suggi'' (2017) - The last work of the poet, a select collection of his poems, was released by the former

Chief Minister of Karnataka The chief minister of Karnataka, formerly known as the chief minister of Mysore, is the chief executive officer of the government of the Indian state of Karnataka. As per the Constitution of India, the governor of Karnataka is the state's ''de j ...

Veerappa Moily Marpadi Veerappa Moily (born 12 January 1940) is an Indian politician belonging to the Indian National Congress from the state of Karnataka. Moily was the former Chief Minister (and the first ethnic Tuluva CM) of the Indian state of Karnataka ...

in the year 2017. Translations * Selected Works of

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

- ('' Merchant of Venice,

King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane an ...

and A Midsummer Night’s Dream''). * Poems of

Pablo Neruda Ricardo Eliécer Neftalí Reyes Basoalto (12 July 1904 – 23 September 1973), better known by his pen name and, later, legal name Pablo Neruda (; ), was a Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. Nerud ...

Awards

Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry The Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry is an annual award given by the Karnataka Sahitya Academy recognizing the best poetry of the year written in Kannada language and published in India. Winners See also * List of poetry awards ...

(1982): ''Anaamika Aanglaru'' *

Rajyotsava Award The Rajyotsava Prashasti or Rajyotsava Awards, the second highest civilian honor of the Karnataka state of India are conferred annually by the Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Government on the occasion of the establishment of the state on 1 ...

(1981) * Nadoja Award (2003) *

Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...

(2008) *Kempegowda Award * Pampa Award (2017)

Books

* * * * * * * * *

Honours

Nissar Ahmed was the chairperson of 73rd ''Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana'' (All India Kannada Literary Symposium) held at Shivamogga in 2007. The 407th edition of Mysuru Dasara was inaugurated by him in 2017 atop

Chamundi Hills The Chamundi Hills are located 13 km east of Mysore, Karnataka, India. The name comes from the Chamundeshwari Temple at the peak. The average elevation is . Attractions The Chamundeshwari Temple is located atop the Chamundi Hills. Patro ...

. He was conferred honorary doctorates by

Kuvempu University Kuvempu University is a public state university in Shankaraghattta, Bhadravathi taluk, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India. It was established in 1987 by the act of the Karnataka state legislature through amendment No. 28/1976 dated 29 January 1989 ...

Bangalore University Bangalore University (BU) is a public state university located in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The university is a part of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and affiliated by Univers ...

and

Karnatak University Karnatak University is a public state university in Dharwad district of Karnataka state, India. The university is recognized by University Grants Commission (India), University Grants Commission and accredited by National Assessment and Accre ...

in recognition of his work.

Personal life

Nissar Ahmed was married to Shahnawaz Begum. Nissar and his wife narrowly escaped a terrorist blast in

Jaipur Jaipur (; Hindi Language, Hindi: ''Jayapura''), formerly Jeypore, is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Rajasthan. , the city had a pop ...

. The couple had two sons and daughters.

Death

Nissar Ahmed died on Sunday, 3 May in

Bengaluru Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...

at his residence. He was aged 84 and died due to age related ailments. He was heartbroken as he had lost his wife the previous year and most recently his son in the US to cancer. His end came only 18 days after the demise of his son. He died at his residence in Padmanabhanagar peacefully.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nissar Ahmed, K. S. Kannada poets Indian Muslims 1936 births 20th-century Indian poets 2020 deaths People from Bangalore Rural district Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education Indian male poets Poets from Karnataka 20th-century Indian male writers