📄 Abstract
Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre (1896–1981), popularly known as Da. Ra. Bendre or Ambikatanayadatta, stands as one of the prominent figures of modern Kannada literature. A pioneering voice in the Navodaya movement, he is celebrated as a varakavi (gifted poet-seer) for his lyrical genius, insightful engagement with the Kannada language—especially its Dharwad idiom—and his ability to blend folk traditions with classical and modern sensibilities. His vast compositions, spanning nearly seven decades, includes iconic collections like Naaku Tanti (for which he was conferred the Jnanpith Award in 1973), and his poetry is noted for its musicality, imagistic richness, philosophical depth, and innovation in form and rhythm. Keerthinath Kurthukoti and G. S. Amur are widely recognized as the notable commentators of D. R. Bendre's poetry in modern Kannada literary criticism. Kurtakoti (1928–2003), a scholar-critic with deep roots in polyglot traditions (Kannada, Sanskrit, Marathi, English), brings a philological, tradition-grounded, and aesthetically nuanced approach. Amur (1925–2020), an important academic critic, emphasizes cultural heritage, evolutionary phases, and a broader literary-historical contextualization. Through their reflective and incessant engagement with Bendre's poetic works, they made lasting contributions to the development of Kannada critical discourse. While both share a deep appreciation of Bendre's literary genius, their critical perspectives, interpretative methodologies, and analytical emphases differ significantly. Kurthukoti's criticism is primarily grounded in close textual analysis and Indian aesthetic theory, whereas Amur adopts a broader literary-historical and comparative approach. These complementary perspectives have collectively enriched the understanding of Bendre's poetry and expanded the horizons of modern Kannada literary criticism. Two major critical works on Bendre—Keerthinath Kurtakoti’s Vāgartha (often subtitled or understood as focusing on Bendre Kāvyānusandhāna, or poetic inquiry) and G. S. Amur’s Bhuvanada Bhagya (roughly “The Fortune/Luck of the World,” a wide-ranging study of Bendre’s literature)—offer different yet complementary lenses for understanding and interpreting this multidimensional aspects of Bendre’s poetry. This comparative study examines their methodologies, key insights, strengths, and divergences in illuminating Bendre’s genius.
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📚 How to Cite:
Dr.Venugopala B.N , INTERPRETING D. R. BENDRE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF KEERTHINATH KURTHUKOTI'S VĀGARTHA AND G. S. AMUR'S BHUVANADA BHAGYA , Volume 12 , Issue 8, August 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , Pages: 414 - 419 ,