Dr. Phakirappa Gurubasappa Halakatti was an Indian scholar and Kannada writer and also known for the resurrection of
Vachana sahitya
Vachana sahitya is a form of rhythmic writing in Kannada (see also Kannada poetry) that evolved in the 11th century and flourished in the 12th century, as a part of the Sharana movement. Madara Chennaiah, an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived ...
. Dr. Phakeerappa Halakatti was born on July 2, 1880, to Gurubasappa and Danamma in
Dharwad
Dharwad (), also known as Dharwar, is a city located in the north western part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Dharwad district of Karnataka and forms a contiguous urban area with the city of Hubballi. It was merge ...
. He was the founding father of BLDEA an educational trust in
Bijapur
Bijapur, officially known as Vijayapura, is the district headquarters of Bijapur district of the Karnataka state of India. It is also the headquarters for Bijapur Taluk. Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural ...
.
Early life and education
He completed his primary and middle school education in
Dharwad
Dharwad (), also known as Dharwar, is a city located in the north western part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Dharwad district of Karnataka and forms a contiguous urban area with the city of Hubballi. It was merge ...
. In 1902, Dr. P. G. Halakatti obtained his graduation in BA from
St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
St. Xavier's College is a private, Catholic, autonomous higher education institution run by the
Bombay Province of the Society of Jesus in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was founded by the Jesuits on January 2, 1869. The college is affil ...
and continued his studies and completed LLB degree in first class in 1904.
Early career
In 1904 he arrived in
Bijapur
Bijapur, officially known as Vijayapura, is the district headquarters of Bijapur district of the Karnataka state of India. It is also the headquarters for Bijapur Taluk. Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural ...
to pursue the career as a lawyer. While pursuing his career as a lawyer, he dedicated himself to the collection of Vachana literature by moving house to house. He made people realize the importance of
Vachana sahitya
Vachana sahitya is a form of rhythmic writing in Kannada (see also Kannada poetry) that evolved in the 11th century and flourished in the 12th century, as a part of the Sharana movement. Madara Chennaiah, an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived ...
written by
Basavanna
Basaveshwara, colloquially known as Basavanna, was a 12th-century CE Indian statesman, philosopher, poet, Lingayat social reformer in the Shiva-focussed bhakti movement, and a Hindu Shaivite social reformer during the reign of the Kalyani Chalu ...
and other Sharanas
who were all great literary figures .
Collection of Vachanas
Dr. P.G. Halakatti came across few bundles of Vachanas written in the palm leaf when he visited Sri
Shivalingappa Manchale. There he had the opportunity to see palm leaf manuscripts of ‘Shatsthala Thilaka’ and ‘Prabhudeva Vachana’ and he was deeply influenced by them and dedicated his life to the revival of
Vachana sahitya
Vachana sahitya is a form of rhythmic writing in Kannada (see also Kannada poetry) that evolved in the 11th century and flourished in the 12th century, as a part of the Sharana movement. Madara Chennaiah, an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived ...
. He started ‘Hithachinthaka (ಹಿತಚಿಂತಕ)’ printing press to publish the collected manuscripts. In order to promote
Vachana sahitya
Vachana sahitya is a form of rhythmic writing in Kannada (see also Kannada poetry) that evolved in the 11th century and flourished in the 12th century, as a part of the Sharana movement. Madara Chennaiah, an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived ...
he started ‘Shivanubhava (ಶಿವಾನುಭವ)’ Kannada newspaper and ‘Shivanubhava Granthamale (ಶಿವಾನುಭವ ಗ್ರಂಥಮಾಲೆ)’. In 1927, Dr. P. G. Halakatti started a weekly called ‘Navakarnataka (ನವಕರ್ನಾಟಕ)’ which published political, social, educational and employment related articles.
Awards and Recognitions
Recognizing Sri Halakatti’s service to literature,
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 ...
conferred on him
Doctor of Literature
Doctor of Letters (D.Litt., Litt.D., Latin: ' or ') is a terminal degree in the humanities that, depending on the country, is a higher doctorate after the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree or equivalent to a higher doctorate, such as the Doctor ...
(D.Litt) degree in November 1953.
Dr. P. G. Halakatti was chosen as the president of
Kannada Sahitya Sammelana
The Kannada Sahitya Sammelana () is the premier gathering of writers, poets and Kannadigas. It is held with the aim of preserving and developing the Kannada language, its literature, art, culture and music. It was started in 1915 by H. V. Nanju ...
(Kannada literature conference) held in 1926 in Ballary.
Literary contributions
* Sri Basaveshvarana Vachanagalu, (1926)
* Mahadeviayakkana Vachanagalu, (1927)
* Prabhudevara Vachanagalu, (1931)
* Devara Dasimayyana Vachanagalu, (1939)
* Sakalesha Madarasana Vachanagalu, (1929)
* Shunya Sampadane (Guluru Siddaveeranacharya), (1930)
* Siddarameshvarana Vachanagalu, (1932)
* Hariharana Ragalegalu, Part 1 to Part 4, (1933)
* Hariharana Ragalegalu, Part 5 to Part 7, (1935–40)
* Adayyana Vachanagalu, (1930)
>
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halakatti, Phakirappa Gurubasappa
Kannada-language writers
Lingayatism
People from Dharwad
1880 births
1964 deaths
Writers from Karnataka