Koliwada is a remote village tucked away in a non-descript area of North Karnataka. The village is one of the most neglected and basic needs like water, electricity, drains, roads, and toilets are missing.
Then, why is it that I am writing about this village and why should you readers spend your precious time reading about yet another Indian village without basic needs?
Well, the answer is that this is the birth place of Karnataka’s greatest poet, Kumaravyasa. He was born as Narayanappa and lived here in the 14th century. He wrote the Karnataka Bharatha Katha Manjari also known as Gadugina Bharatha sitting against a pillar in Veeranarayana temple, Gadag.
There is a huge hall constructed in his name in Koliwada and apart from this, one cannot get a clue that this village was once home to the great poet. His descendants live in this village and the manuscript on which Kumaravyasa has written is preserved by them.
My maternal grandfather, M.M.Patil is also a descendant of Kumaravyasa though not directly. My grandfather had studied the Mahabharatha to his heart’s content and was an expert in rendering the Bharatha to the common man with great élan! He also started the Kumaravyasana Smarkotsava in Koliwada to honor the poet in 1940. This was to remind the people the greatness of poet Kumaravyasa.
I will dedicate a separate post on poet Kumaravyasa and his works.
Interesting places:
Veeranarayana Temple also known as Madhava Janardhana Temple
Maha Mayi Temple
Place statistics:
Type of place: Village
Situated: Gadag district
Distance: 35 km from Gadag
Transport: Well connected by road, nearest rail is Annigeri
Facilities: Nil
