Hampa Nagarajaiah

Hampanā completed his early education at his native village and neighbouring towns such as Gowribidanur, Madhugiri, Tumkur and Mandya. Later he moved to Maharaja's College, Mysore from where he did his graduation in BA (Honours) and completed his post-graduation in Kannada under the intellectual inspiration of Kuvempu, Theenamshree, D L Narasimhachar, S V Parameshwara Bhatta, K Venkataramappa, DeJaGou at University of Mysore in 1959. He was soon appointed as lecturer in Kannada and served at Mysore Maharani’s College, Sahyadri College of Shimoga and Government College at Mandya, DRM College at Davanagere and Govt. Arts & Science College at Bengaluru. Meanwhile, he acquired PhD from Bangalore University for A Comprehensive study of Vaddārādhane.

Hampanā has delivered guest lectures on Jainism at universities in UK, Germany and USA.[1] He has also delivered lectures on linguistics, poetics and Jain literature at Bengaluru University, Mysore University, Mangalore University, Karnataka University, Kuvempu University, Mumbai University, Madras University and Madhurai University.

He served in capacities like professor and dean of arts faculty in Bengaluru University. He also officiated as Director of Jain Research Centre, Director of Institute of Jain Studies, and Director of Department of Kannada and Culture in Government of Karnataka before retiring in 1996.

He also served as an honorary secretary of the Kannada Literary Chair called Kannada Sahitya Parishat from 1966 to 1974 and was elected as its president for three terms during 1978-1986. During his tenure he has published about 300 books in Kannada authored by scholars. When UNESCO declared 1979 as International Children’s Year he published through KaSaPa, 200 books for children written by different writers. He is the man behind erecting a building to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of KaSaPa in the premise of Krishnaraja Parishanmandira.

His students and admirers with due respect and love have offered him several felicitation volumes on different occasions. All these are filled with articles on scholastic importance. They can be listed as,

• Pachethene (in 1983) Ed: T K Mahamood and S M Krishnaraya
• Samkriti (in 1988) Ed: D. H J Lakkappa Gowda and Prof. Sukanya Maruthi
• Samkarshana (in 1996) Ed: J Jnanananda & Dr. Sanjeev K Shetty
• Baraha baagina (in 1997) Ed: H V Nagesh
• HamGranthavali (in 1997) (A compendium of his works) Ed: Smitha Reddy & Tamil Selvi
• Hampanā Vangmaya (in 2007) (Another compilation of his works) Ed: Dr. M Bhyregowa & B R Sathyanarayana
• Svasti (in 2010) Ed:Prof. Nalini Balbir, University of Paris

Hampanā is conferred with many awards. The latest is Naadoja Award (Teacher of the Land) conferred by Kannada University in 2006.[2] The Acharya Sri Mahaprajna Jain Sahitya award, constituted by Jain Shwetambar Terapanth Sabha, was conferred on litterateur Dr. Hampa Nagarajaiah., consisting of a cash of Rs. 51,000 and a memento, on 13 July 2008. Jain World Foundation USA has bestowed upon him the honor by awarding the prestigious ‘Jewel of Jain World’ award on Mahaveer Nirvana day of 2013. This award is given to selected few who have dedicated their life to serve the cause of Jainism and made significant contribution to propagate Jainism globally and enhance visibility of Jainism worldwide.[3] Apart from this he is bestowed with Karnataka Sahitya Academy award in 1993-94, Janapada Yakshagana Academy award in 1995, National award for the best child literature in 1990, Chavundaraya award in 1996, Kavyananda award in 1997, Karnataka Rajyotsava award in 1998, Shasana Sahitya award and Chi Na Mangala awards in 2001, Sham Baa Joshi award in 2000. Hampanā is felicitated by the monasteries like Nidumamidi Matha, Sringeri Matha, Chitradurga Brihanmatha, Savalagi Matha, Shravanabelagola Matha, Moorusavira Matha and Ilakal Mahantesha Matha for his contribution towards religion and literature. He is honoured with KundaKunda Jnanapeetha award at Indore, Babulal Amrithlal Sha Gold Medal at Ahmedabad, Acharya Sumathi Sagar award from Sonagiri in Madhya Pradesh for his significant contribution to Jain literature. The civic societies of Indi and Shimoga have bestowed upon him the titles Sahitya Sindhu in 1997 and as Jnanabhaskara in 2001 respectively.

Hampanā is married to Kamala Hampana who also a veteran litterateur. The couple have two daughters and a son.