Dhananjaya Kumble – Poet and critic Dhananjaya Kumble graduated from Kallikote University with a B. A. and secured a Masters degree from Kannur University. He wrote a thesis on ‘Arunabja and Kumaravyasa: A Comparative Study’ and received his Ph.D. He was a Kannada lecturer at Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya, Puttur, Alwas Degree College, Moodubidiri and is currently a professor at SVP Institute of Kannada Studies, Mangalore University. His first poetry collection ‘Modala Papa’ was published in 1998. Later he wrote many important works including ‘Nanu mattu Akasha’ – critique articles, ‘Hadu Kalita Hakkige’ – poetry collection, ‘Kajampadi Rama’, ‘Pragtisheela Lekhaka Niranjana’, ‘Bahubhasha Vidvamsa Venkataraja Puninchattaya’. He was the coordinator of Yakshagana Study Center of Mangalore University and now he is working as the coordinator of Kanakadasa Research Center and also as Assistant Director of Broadcasting.

He has received many awards for his contributions in the fields of literature and culture, including ‘Pejavara Sadashiva Rao State Level Award’, ‘Kantavara Kannada Sangh Punaruru Trust’s Muddana Kavya Award’, ‘Sahitya Yuva Sadhaka Award’, ‘Kannada Pustaka Pradhikara Grant Encouragement for Young Writers’, ‘Rotary Club Kasaragodu’s Creative Writer Award’ and ‘Mayuravarma Literary Award 2020’.