the first language in schools in the state. Gokak's writing reflected his interest in religion, philosophy, education and cultures. His education abroad prompted him to write two sets of travelogues. The Navodaya movement was at its peak and Gokak stayed true to his spirit- his poems showed nuances of Victorian poetry, oral traditions in Kannada storytelling and epics in Sanskrit and Kannada. V.K Gokak wrote many collections of poetry under the pen name Vinayaka. These collections include 'Samudra Geethegalu', 'Baaladeguladalli', 'Abhyudaya', 'Dhyava Prithvi' and 'Urnabha'. Gokak's anthology of poetry by Indian poets titled The Golden Treasury of Indo Anglican poetry was a treatise on poets like Sri Aurobindo, Sarojini Naidu and Toru Dutta, Nissim Ezekiel and Kamala Das. In the late 1960s he was deeply influenced by Sri Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi and over the years, Gokak became the medium for translating the guru's words into English and spreading it to the world. His book 'The Advent of Sathya Sai' explains the meaning of Sathya Sai Baba's miracles, his work with the poor and his impact on the educational system. The state of Karnataka hosts a series of literary events to mark Gokak's birth centenary on 9 August of every year. Writings Epics Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi. Novels Samarasave Jeevana – Ijjodu Mattu Erilita (vol 1) Samarasave Jeevana – Samudrayana Mattu Nirvahana (vol 2) Poetry collections Urnanabha Abyudaya Baaladeguladalli Dyava Pruthvi (Kendra Saahithya Academy Award) Samudra Geethegalu English words Other Sahitya Vimarsheya Kelavu Tatvagalu Nanna Jeevana Drishti Jeevana Paatagalu Kala Siddhantha India & World Culture Gokak Kruthi Chintana Pravasa katanagalu Honors and awards Presidentship of the 40th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in 1958 Honorary doctorates from the Karnatak University Honorary doctorates from the Pacific University of the USA Central Sahitya Akademi award for his 'Dyava Prithivi' in 1961 Jnanpith award-for his Bharatha sindhu rashmi, in 1990 Translations Voices of the Himalaya: translated by the authors, Kamala Ratnam, V.K. Gokak and others. (Bombay: Asia Publishing House, 1966. vi, 70 p. Poems by celebrated poet Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' See also Gokak agitation – a language campaign References 1909 births 1992 deaths Kannada poets English-language poets from India 20th-century Indian poets Kannada-language writers Recipients of the Jnanpith Award Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education People from Haveri district Kannada people Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Kannada Scholars from Karnataka Indian male novelists 20th-century Indian novelists Novelists from Karnataka Poets