The Monu magic

Bolwar Mahamad Kunhi, the winner of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for his work on Gandhiji for children, says it is a fascinating story of an ordinary boy who became famous by speaking the truth

In the West, most acclaimed writers have written for children. However, such instances are far and few between in our immediate literary context. Bolwar Mahamad Kunhi, a short story writer and novelist of repute is among the few exceptions. This writer has edited what is considered the finest work ever produced in Kannada for children – “Tattu Chappale Putta Magu”, a collection of over 100 poems and “Santammanna”, which is an anthology of 40-odd poems with lively-lovely illustrations. He is now the recipient of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award for telling children the story of an ordinary Mohandas who became Mahatma Gandhi in his “Paapu Gandhi Bapu Gandhi Aada Kathe”.

Apart from Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar, it is only Bolwar who has written about Gandhi for children.

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