M. Govinda Pai

Manjeshwar Govinda Pai () (1883–1963), also known as Rastrakavi Govinda Pai, was a Kannada poet. He was awarded the Rashtrakavi title by the Madras Government (Kasaragod district was part of South Kanara district of Madras state prior to the States reorganisation on 1 November 1956 ). Govinda Pai was the one who put Manjeshwaram on the literary maps of India.

Early life

Govinda Pai was born on 23 March 1883 in his maternal grandfather's house in Manjeshwaram. He was the first son of Mangalore Savakar Thimma Pai and Devaki Amma. Govinda Pai went to school in Mangalore. For college education, Pai went to Madras (Chennai). Due to the sudden death of his father, he had to return back.

Career

Govinda Pai was also a prolific prose writer. His earliest composition in prose was Srikrishna Charita (1909) which provides for remarkable reading. His best works written in blank verse, viz., Golgotha (the last days of Christ, published in 1937), Vaisakhi (The last days of Budha, published in 1946) and Hebberaqlu (The Thumb, the story of Ekalavya retold, published in 1946) have won for Govinda Pai a lasting place in the gallery of the greatest poets of Kannada literature.

He was able to read and write fluently 25 languages including Tulu, Sanskrit, Telagu, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali,......
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