Kuppalli Venkatappa Puttappa, better known as Kuvempu, was a gifted writer of Kannada literature. Born on December 29, 1904 in a small village in Shimoga district, he spent his early childhood in Malnad region. The natural beauty of this place had a great impact on him as is evident in his writings. He was also influenced by the regular recital of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Vachanas.

He entered the literary field quite early in life. When only in high school, as part of Padma Patra association, he critically analysed poetry and the writings of Swami Vivekananda. While studying English literature, he wrote Beginner’s Muse, a collection of poems, in 1921. However, an Irish poet, James Cousins, advised him to write in his mother tongue, Kannada.