Kannada Literature Syllabus for UPSC

About Kannada Language: –

Kannada language, is a member of the Dravidian language family and the official language of the state of Karnataka in southern India. Kannada is also spoken in the states that border Karnataka. Kannada is the second oldest of the four major Dravidian languages with a literary tradition. The oldest Kannada inscription was discovered at the small community of Halmidi and dates to about 450 CE.

Kannada Syllabus Subject For UPSC

Kannada is the language provided as a Literature Optional which focuses on the candidates’ understanding of the basic concepts of literature. Candidates who have studied the Kannada literature can opt for it as an optional subject in the IAS (UPSC CSE) Mains Exam. Analytical and unconventional questions are appearing in previous papers so while preparing students should keep IAS Mains Kannada Syllabus and previous papers for reference. The aspirants who are well versed with the Kannada language and are familiar with the grammatical aspects can easily score high marks in this optional. 

Kannada Syllabus Exam Pattern: –

The Kannada language is one of the optional subjects offered for the 2 optional papers in the IAS (UPSC CSE) Main Exam. Each Kannada optional paper consists of 250 marks. Duration for each Kannada mains paper is 3 hours. With well-planned strategies, you can easily score well in the Kannada literature. Interest should be the prime criteria for choosing any optional. The aspirants have to answer the questions from both the papers in Kannada language.

Advantages of choosing Kannada 

· Well defined syllabus and Less subjectivity

  • Direct and straightforward questions
  • Ample scope to score marks with diagrams
  • The inquiries in this subject are immediate and crucial.
  • Room for interpretation in the written answers
  • Quality of answers as there is no limitation to different kinds of answers.
  • Updation in the syllabus is rare

Disadvantages of choosing Kannada

  • Subjective Nature of the answers can lead to less scoring at times if your views do not match with the evaluator.
  • Lack of resources
  • No syllabus overlaps with GS papers
  • Essay writing and interviews won’t pose much of a problem as the amount of reading will help with these.

Kannada Paper 1 Syllabus

Section A

  1. History of Kannada Language
  • What is Language? General characteristics of Language.
  • Dravidian Family of Languages and its specific features, Antiquity of Kannada Language, Different Phases of its Development.
  • Dialects of Kannada Language: Regional and Social Various aspects of the development of Kannada Language: phonological and Semantic changes. Language borrowing.
  1. History of Kannada Literature
  • Ancient Kannada literature: Influence and Trends. Poets for study: Specified poets from Pampa to Ratnakara Varni are to be studied in the light of contents, form and expression: Pampa, Janna, Nagachandra.
  • Medieval Kannada literature: Influence and Trends.
  • Vachana literature: Basavanna, Akka Mahadevi.
  • Medieval Poets: Harihara, Raghavanka, Kumar-Vyasa.
  • Dasa literature : Purandra and Kanaka.
  • Sangataya : Ratnakaravarni
  1. Modern Kannada literature:
  • Influence, trends and ideologies, Navodaya, Pragatishila, Navya, Dalita and Bandana.

Section B

  1. Poetics and literary criticism:
  • Definition and concepts of poetry: Word, Meaning, Alankara, Reeti, Rasa, Dhwani, Auchitya. Interpretations of Rasa Sutra. Modern Trends of literary criticism: Formalist, Historical, Marxist, Feminist, Post-colonial criticism.
  1. Cultural History of Karnataka
  • Contribution of Dynasties to the culture of Karnataka: Chalukyas of Badami and Kalyani, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara rulers, in the literary context.
  • Major religions of Karnataka and their cultural contributions. Arts of Karnataka: Sculpture, Architecture, Painting, Music, Dance-in the literary context. Unification of Karnataka and its impact on Kannada literature.

Kannada Paper 2 Syllabus

Section A

Old Kannada Literature

  • Vikramaarjuna Vijaya of Pampa (cantos 12 & 13), (Mysore University Pub.)
  • Vaddaraadhane (Sukumaraswamyia Kathe, Vidyutchorana Kathe)

Medieval Kannada Literature :

  • Vachana Kammata, Ed: K. Marulasiddappa K.R. Nagaraj (Bangalore University Pub.)
  • Janapriya Kanakasamputa, Ed. D. Javare Gowda (Kannada and Culture Directorate, Bangalore)
  • Nambiyannana Ragale, Ed., T.N. Sreekantaiah (Ta.Vem. Smaraka Grantha Male, Mysore)
  • Kumaravyasa Bharata : Karna Parva (Mysore University)
  • Bharatesha Vaibhava Sangraha Ed. Ta. Su. Shama Rao (Mysore University)

Section B

Modern Kannada Literature

  • Poetry : Hosagannada Kavite, Ed : G.H. Nayak (Kannada Saahitya Parishattu, Bangalore)
  • Novel : Bettada Jeeva-Shivarama Karanta Madhavi-Arupama Niranjana Odalaala-Devanuru Mahadeva
  • Short Story : Kannada Sanna Kathegalu, Ed. G.H. Nayak (Sahitya Academy, New Delhi).
  • Drama : Shudra Tapaswi-Kuvempu. Tughlak-Girish Karnad.
  • Vichara Saahitya : Devaru-A.N. Moorty Rao (Pub : D.V.K. Moorty, Mysore.)

Folk Literature

  • Janapada Swaroopa-Dr. H.M. Nayak. (Ta. Vem. Smaraka Grantha Male, Mysore.)
  • Janapada Geetaanjali-Ed.D. Javare Gowda. (Pub : Sahitya Academy, New Delhi.)
  • Kannada Janapada Kathegalu-Ed. J.S. Paramashivaiah, (Mysore University.)
  • Beedi Makkalu Beledo. Ed. Kalegowda Nagavara (Pub : Bangalore University.)

Savirada Ogatugalu-Ed : S.G. Imrapura.