Paper Details

Name: Kumaraswamy. T
Country: India

Year: 2025
Volume: Volume-12, Issue-1 (January-June)
Page Number: 32-36
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17214358

ABSTRACT
The history of Karnataka is inseparably intertwined with the evolution of the Kannada
language and its literary traditions. From the early inscriptions of the Kadambas and
Chalukyas to the sophisticated poetic works of Pampa, Ranna, and Janna, Kannada has
served as a medium not only of artistic expression but also of historical consciousness. This
article explores how the growth of Kannada literature contributed to the shaping of cultural
identity and collective memory in Karnataka. During the medieval period, the devotional
movements led by the Vachana poets and Haridasa saints expanded the reach of Kannada,
embedding social reform and philosophical ideas into the language. Literary works became
powerful instruments in articulating regional pride, resisting external domination, and
strengthening political legitimacy under dynasties such as the Hoysalas and Vijayanagara
rulers. The colonial encounter and the nationalist period further redefined Kannada identity,
as writers and intellectuals invoked the past to demand linguistic recognition and political
unity. By tracing this continuum, the article highlights the dynamic interplay between
language, literature, and identity in Karnataka, showing how Kannada became both a cultural
symbol and a historical force in shaping regional consciousness.
Keywords: Kannada literature, Karnataka history, cultural identity, historical consciousness,
Vachana movement, regional pride, language and society