PARAMASHIVAIAH Ji.Sham, 1933-1995

Paramashivaiah G.S. (ji.es. paramashivaiah) (ಜಿ.ಶಂ. ಪರಮಶಿವಯ್ಯ) ranks among a handful of scholars in Karnataka who devoted their entire life for the collection, analysis and evaluation folklore and folk literature. Paramashivaiah strove hard to give an academic status to the study of folklore in the Universities of Karnataka even though many collectors and scholars had worked in that field earlier.

Paramashivaiah was born at ambalajeerahalli, in Nagamangala talluk of Mandya district. He has tried his hand in many literary genres such as short story, novel and essay. He obtained a master’s degree in Kannada and worked as a free lance collector and analyst of folklore before joining the University of Mysore as a lecturer in Kannada in 1966. He laid the foundation for an academic study of folklore along with D. Javaregowda and H.M.Nayaka. He was instrumental in the establishment of the now renowned folklore museum in the University with able assistance from P.R. Tippeswamy a well known artist. Shifting the centre of folklore studies from lyrics and stories to folk epics rendered by professional singers is among the more important contributions of Paramashivaiah. ‘Manteswami Kavya’ ((Singer: Malavalli Rachaiah and Gurubasavaiah, maLavaLLi rAcayya and gurubasavayya) collected and published in 1973 by ‘jishampa’ inaugurated a new age in the collection of folklore. He was responsible along with others for giving anthropological dimension to the study of folklore in the context of Karnataka, eschewing the literary approach that was in vogue. He should be given due credit for unearthing a number of folk art-forms that were marginalized till then. He played a crucial role in providing a centrestage to folklore in the artistic scenario of Karnataka. He found many parallels between the much celebrated ‘Yakshagana’ of the coastal Karnataka and the ‘mUDalapAya’ prevalent in other parts of Karnataka. Establishment of the folklore museum in Mysore, in 1968 is one of his singular achievements. He was greatly supported by P.R.Tippeswamy. The museum has a collection of more than 6,500 unique folklore exhibits. The exhibits are organized in a systematic order according to the folk artforms. The gallery is divided into wings for folklore, large dolls, folklife, folk literature and folk art.

Some of his important works are as follows:

1. ‘dakshiNa karnATakada janapada kAvyaprakAragaLu’ (1979)

2. ‘jAnapada sangama’ (1978)

3. ‘jAnapada-kelavu mukhagaLu’ (1975)

4. ‘jAnapada gangOtri’ (1988)

5. ‘Kannada VruttigAyaka kAvyagaLu’ (1982)

6. ‘ janapada sAhitya samIkshe’ (1967)

7. ‘janapada kalAvihAra’

Paramashivaiah played an important role in the establishment of many institutions devoted to the study, dessimination and exhibition of folklore and folkarts. ‘Karnataka Janapada Parishat’, ‘Folklore Fellows of India’ and ‘Mudalapaya Yakshagana Trust’ are a few among them. He traveled in India and abroad taking troupes of folk artists with him. Many of his students have done yeoman work in the field of folklre studies. He was the Chairman of ‘Karnatalka Janapada and Yakshagana Academy’. (1981-1984) He has received the Rajyotsava Award by the Government of Karnataka in 1987.

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