Kuppe Nagaraj was born and raised in Kuppe Village, Mysuru district, Karnataka. During his college years, he served as the district convenor of the Dalita Sangharsha Samiti (DSS). He later joined the Department of Treasuries, retiring as a Group A officer. His autobiography, Alemariya Antharanga, has been translated into Telugu, Hindi, and Marathi, and in 2013, it earned him the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award. He has also edited and authored two books on the Dombi Dasas in Kannada, receiving numerous accolades for his contributions to Kannada culture and literature. He was the founding member of Karnataka State
Federation of Nomadic, Semi-Nomadic, and De-notified Tribes, and also served as the state secretary of the Karnataka State Dombi Dasa Welfare Association.
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Ekathaari: An Autobiography of a Nomad
Kuppe Nagaraja’s autobiography is of social importance as it covers the life of a nomadic community. Its uniqueness comes from the fact that the nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyle is markedly different from that of other communities in the lower socioeconomic strata of society. This autobiography does not glorify the life of its author; it narrates the story of a community through the lens of an individual’s life. It begins as the story of an individual, then becomes the story of a family, and finally transforms into the story of a community. The autobiography grows beyond the traps of self-glorification by providing equal space to all these aspects in a balancedmanner.
– Baraguru Ramachandrappa
Noted Kannada writer, critic and film directorJust as birds migrate to greener pastures, nomadic people move towards regions that have received good rains. Kuppe Nagaraja’s autobiography meaningfully captures their traditions, beliefs, social interactions, and superstitions. This book can also be considered a free gift to social scientists as it provides insights into the life of nomads. It should be noted that it is very difficult to study nomads, as they keep to themselves and often dodge any probing questions. Moreover,
the book provides an answer to all those people who often stand on the footpaths of cities debating the relevance of caste-based reservation in Indian society.
– Krupakara-Senani
The Green Oscar winning wildlife photographersinterested customers may write to us at mup@manipal.edu about purchasing the book.