H.L.Nagegowda
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"Janapada Loka is a place near Ramanagara on the Mysuru- Bengaluru highways. It is an outcome of a decade span work by Dr.H.L.Nagegowda of Folk vision. It is a world of sweet memories of the unique folk collection that can retain Nagegowda’s name forever. He had a passion for folk culture and life. The folk fest being conducted here finds no documents only alminag and the fest is pride of this culture. Folk songs and folklore are the essence of their very being of the rural life and the light of life.
Nagegowda was a multifaceted genius and efficient officer of high integrity and a writer of books. The speciality in Nagegowda’s personality is his honest concern for rural artists. Helping them directly and demanding the government to sanction the pension of troubled artists shows his helping nature. If anyone writes the history of folklore, Nagegowda’s name stands in the front.
Hereganahally of Naagamangala taluk in Mandya district is Nagegowda’s native place and there he was born as the son of Lingegowda and Hucchamma on 11th February 1915.
Doddamane, a large house, the head of the family used to offer food to hungry people and console them with his words. Nagegowda’s father wants to make him an amaldaar. Amaldaar in those days were as respected as king. When he was in high school he took part in the freedom movement. After growing up he secured 25th rank in Mysore Civil services in the competitive exam to become a probationary revenue officer, as managing director of the cooperative sugar factory at Paandavapura. He completed the construction of this factory during this period. Nagegowda was virtually a folk sage. He began the Jaanapada trust in 1979. He travelled throughout the state hundreds of times, personally met thousands of artists and recorded folk songs, tales, puzzles, etc.
Sri Nagegowda Hailing from a farmer’s family had affection and concern for the rural folk. He rose to a high government post after his education and earned a reputation. His passion was folk songs. Today, his audio record consists of one thousand five hundred hours in his collection and more than thousands of colour transparents on folk art, festivals, fairs, ceremonies etc. Here there is also a list behind video cassettes of about 800 hours. H. L.Nagegowda identified rural artists, recorded their songs, and shot dance forms and registering these all alone, he contributed a great deal to folklore. He opened a folk museum in Sivamoga. Dullu dance, Suggi dance, Koolata dances of goravaas troops of these dances also present in Jaanapada. Banglore university has recognized Jaanapada looka as a centre of research and it has begun folk diploma and certificate courses. Lookotsava, Dasara festival and kite fests are conducted regularly in February, October and July, respectively. JaanaPadalooka awards are given in recognition of folk artists thus encouraging the much-neglected folk work.
Folk experts from all over the world have visited the place and appreciated Nagegowda’s interest in folk work. This Jaanapada looka is the best folk centre in the world. He started a periodical called Jaanapada Samaacaaraa. Daddame is the most famous and debated Novel. Nagegowda has an equal mastery over English too and has translated and edited eight huge volumes called Pravasi Kanda India, published by Mysore University.
A few important awards of his life are Karanatak Sahitya academy honours by Jaanapada and Yakshagaana academy, the fellowship of Nataka academy, Naadoja award of Hampi Kannada University, the raajotsava award of Karnataka and Pampa Award.
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