Vijaya Dabbe (1 June 1951 – 23 February 2018) was an Indian writer, feminist, scholar and critic in Kannada language.[1] Often credited as the first feminist writer in modern Kannada language, Dabbe was one of the prominent figures in feminist movement in Karnataka.[2][3][4]

Vijaya Dabbe
BornVijaya
(1951-06-01)1 June 1951
Dabbe, Belur, Karnataka, India
Died23 February 2018(2018-02-23) (aged 66)
Mysore, Karnataka, India
Occupation
  • Professor
  • researcher
  • poet
  • scholar
  • writer
  • critic
LanguageKannada
Genre
  • Poetry
  • travelogue
  • translation
  • research
  • criticism
Subject
  • Feminism
  • modern women literature
Literary movementFeminist movement in Karnataka
ParentsSeethalakshmi (mother)
Krishnamurthy (father)

Personal life

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Vijaya was born on 1 June 1951 in Dabbe village of Belur taluk, to Krishnamurthy and Seethalakshmi.[5] She finished her schooling in Kalasapura and Javagal, later moved to Hassan and Mysuru to do higher education. She served as Kannada faculty member at Mysore University.[5]

Career

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As writer

Dabbe's first noted literary work was ‛Irutthave’ (lit.'They Exist'), a collection of poems, published in 1975. Her other important works including ‛Neeru Lohada Chinte’ (lit.'The Worries of Water and Metal') (1985) and ’Naari Daari Digantha’ and so on. Most of her works are women centric.[citation needed]

Feminist movement

Vijaya Dabbe was one of the founders of ‛Samatha Vedike’,[6] instituted in 1978, a group of women writers and activists who have been working to spread awareness about gender equality, family atrocities on women, dowry, child marriage, other caste based discrimination and social injustice for the depressed classes, especially women. Dabbe was the front face in leading these activities through her poems, articles, workshops, literary meetings and social works all over Karnataka.[7]

"Be fearless.
Never worry.
As long as you dont
lift up your heads
men will surround you, guard you
as if they were your eyes."


(From Vijaya Dabbe’s poem "Naarimanige Ondu Kivimatu" (Advice to Gentlewomen).[6]

Literary works

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Poetry
  1. Irutthave (1975)
  2. Neeru Lohada Chinte[8](1985)
  3. Ithigeethike (1995)
  4. Tirugi Nintha Prashne (1995)
Research
  1. Nagachandra - Ondu Adhyayana (1983)
  2. Nayasena
  3. Hithaishiya Hejjegalu (1992)
  4. Saarasaraswathi (1996)
  5. Hithophia Hejjegalu
Travelogue
  1. Uriya Chigura Uthkale (1999)
Criticism
  1. Mahila Sahitya Samaja (1986)
  2. Naari Daari Digantha (1996)
  3. Mahila mattu Maanavate
  4. Samprati (1977)
Translation
  1. Meri Mekliyath Bethone
  2. Vimochaneyedege (with B. N. Sumitrabai, 1986)
  3. Gurujaada (1986)

Awards

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  1. 2008 - Rajyotsava Prashasti by Government of Karnataka[9]
  2. 2008 - Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award by Government of Karnataka[10]
  3. Anumapama Award by Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha[11]
  4. ‛Vardhamana Award’[3]

Death

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Vijaya Dabbe became inactive after she met with a road accident on 6 January in 1999.[7] She died in Mysuru on 23 February 2018, due to cardiac arrest.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ "Writer Vijaya Dabbe passes away". Times of India. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  2. ^ "ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಾಹಿತಿ ವಿಜಯಾ ದಬ್ಬೆ ನಿಧನ" [Senior writer Vijaya Dabbe no more]. Vijayakarnataka (in Kannada). 23 February 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Kannada writer Vijaya Dabbe dies after cardiac arrest". The New Indian Express. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. ^ "ಮಹಿಳಾ ಚಳುವಳಿಗೆ ಗಟ್ಟಿ ನೆಲೆ ಒದಗಿಸಿದ ದಬ್ಬೆ" [Dabbe, who cemented strong base for women movement]. Prajavani (in Kannada). 26 March 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b G. N. Ranganatha Rao (4 March 2018). "ಸ್ತ್ರೀವಾದಿ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ವಿಜಯಾ 'ದಬ್ಬೆ'" [Vijaya 'Dabbe' of feminist literature]. Varthabharati (in Kannada). Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b Susie J. Tharu & K. Lalitha (1 April 1993). Women writing in India: The Twentieth Century. Feminist Press at The City University of New York. p. 584. ISBN 978-1558610293. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b N. Gayatri (8 March 2018). "ಮಹಿಳಾ ಹೋರಾಟಕ್ಕೆ ದಾರಿದೀವಿಗೆ" [Lamp for women movement]. Prajavani (in Kannada). Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  8. ^ Vijaya Dabbe (1985). "ನೀರು ಲೋಹದ ಚಿಂತೆ". Sankalpa Publications. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Rajyotsava Awards". Karnataka Government Official Website. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award". Karnataka Government Official Website. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  11. ^ S N Deepak (1 July 2014). "Women writers in Kannada get noticed". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Writer Vijaya Dabbe dead". The Hindu. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Vijaya Dabbe is no more". citytoday. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2020.