Dinakara Desai (ದಿನಕರ ದೇಸಾಯಿ) was a poet, writer, educationist, and political activist. He was famous for his poetry form called chutuka (also known as Chutuka Brahma). Chutuka or chutuku is a quadraplet poem. This format was later adopted by other poets. He made major contributions towards the literary development of the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.
Biography
Early life
His grand parents were basically from Hondadahakkalu – Antarvalli (near Mirjan, Kumta taluka, Uttara Kannada district) and, were Konkani speaking people. Dinakar was the third child of Dattatray Desai (father) and Ambika (mother). He was born at Ankola (Uttara Kannada District) on 10 September 1909. He had two elder brothers – Yeshwant and Shankar; and, one younger sister – Saraswati. His mother died when Dinakar was 9 years old.
Education
Dinakar spent his early childhood at Alageri, a tiny village near Ankola where his father was working as Government Primary School Teacher. He had his primary education for four years in the same school where his father was working. Dinakar continued education at Edward High School (subsequently renamed as Jai Hind High School), Ankola. He completed Higher Secondary education by passing Matriculation at Government High School, Karwar (Headquarters of Uttara Kannada District). He joined Intermediate course in Bengaluru and continued degree course in Mysuru, completing B.A. in 1931 in First class. He won Candy Award. He moved to Mumbai to pursue Post Graducation course. He joined there at St. Xavier's College, where he completed M.A. in First class in 1933 by presenting a thesis - “Mahamandaleshwaras under the Chalukyas of Kalyani”. He had the guidance of famous History Professor Father Heras while preparing thesis. He won St. Xavier Silver Medal. While preparing for thesis for M.A. he was also attending Law college in Mumbai. He completed LLB in 1934.
Family
Marriage
Dinakar married Indira, daughter of Mahabaleshwar Wagle on 2 July 1936. He had convinced the elders about the need for its simplicity. The marriage was registered at Dharwad and a sum of Rs. 13 only was incurred towards marriage expenses. Dinakar was non-believer in God, but, had tolerated his wife worshipping.
Children, grand children and great grandchildren
Dinakar had two daughters - Usha born on 4 August 1938; and, Nisha born on 30 August 1941. Usha married Vijay Pradhan, a senior advocate in the Bombay High Court. She has two sons - Ranjit and Sanjit and one grand daughter Anusha who's also a practising advocate at the Bombay High Court. Nisha married Satishchandra Vengsarkar and has two daughters Monali and Meghana.
Death
Dinakar Desai had chronic diabetes; the health condition aggravated and he died at Mumbai on 6 November 1982.
Career and activities
Desai initially intended to become a lawyer but was influenced by labour union activists M. N. Joshi and Thakkar Basha, who motivated him to contribute to the labour movement. He later became an associate to S. M. Joshi, reviewing the social issues that caused problems toward labourers. In this regard, he joined the Servants of India Society which was an organisation that was founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale. The membership to this organisation was very stringent and the members were admitted only on an oath that they would serve the country without "expecting anything in return". His initiation to social activism was when he had to fight for the rights of the dock workers in Mumbai who were mainly Konkani people. Later, he also went to the Bijapur and Dharwad districts of Karnataka to assist in providing relief when a severe drought had set into those regions. He grew in stature and also held a position in the Mumbai City Corporation.
Later, Desai decided to focus on his native district of Uttara Kannada, where he began an "agitation against the landlords", which finally culminated in the law granting the land ownership to the person who tills the land. He later created the Kanara Welfare Trust in 1953. Under the aegis of this trust, various schools and colleges were founded in this district. He also started a Kannada language weekly Jansevaka in Ankola to create social and political awareness. One regular contributor was Gourish Kaikini.
Desai also had a career in politics and was once elected to the Parliament of India.
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