Nitin Kushalappa

Nitin Kushalappa
Born
Virajpet, Kodagu, Karnataka
Other namesMookonda Kushalappa, Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa, Nitin Kushalappa M. P.
EducationClarence High School, St. Joseph's Pre-University College, CMR Institute of Technology(BE), Kuvempu University (MA), Alliance University (EPGDM)
OccupationsAuthor, Engineer
Known forThirke (2022), Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold (2023)
AwardsBal Sahitya Puraskar for English in 2025

Nitin Kushalappa (born Mookonda Poonacha Nitin Kushalappa, also known as Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa, Nitin Kushalappa M P or Mookonda Kushalappa) is an Indian author of books and articles. [1] His book "Dakshin" (2023) won the Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya Puraskar in 2025.

Early life

Kushalappa was born to M. K. (Mookonda Kushalappa) Sunny Poonacha and Pushpa (Damayanthi) Poonacha, in a Kodava Hindu family. [2][3][4] They hail from Kodagu (Coorg), a region rich in oral lore.[5][6][7] He studied in Bangalore in Clarence High School, St. Joseph's Pre-University College, CMR Institute of Technology (BE), Kuvempu University (MA) (correspondence course) and Alliance University (EPGDM) (weekend classes).[1]

Career

Nitin Kushalappa is a lead engineer in the software development industry.[8]

Kushalappa has also been working towards preserving the Kodava language and culture.[9][10] He is the researcher working for the online Kodava Virtual Museum.[11][12][13][14] He has done work on an old temple script, thirke.[15][16][17] In an interview with Anushree Madhavan of The New Indian Express, Nitin admits that Coorg and the Pattole Palame are constant influences in his works.[18][19]

Kushalappa has books on local history, a translation from Kannada to English on Pandyanda Belliappa, and a biography to his credit.[20][21] His book 'The Major who kept his Cool' is the biography of an army hero Lt Col (then Major) P S Ganapathi MVC, who protected his men while they were in hostile territory.[21] Nitin has co-authored a book on the native religious practises of Kodagu.[22] His various articles have been published by the Deccan Herald, where he is a columnist, and Star of Mysore. He also writes under the names Mookonda Kushalappa, Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa, and Nitin Kushalappa M P.[23][5][6]

Awards

He is the author of Amazon bestsellers Bigfoot's The House of Awadh (2019), Puffin Books' Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold (2023) and A Hoysala Adventure (2025) and Rupa Publications's Folktales, Myths and Legends from the Deccan (2026).[24][25][20][26][27] The House of Awadh was nominated for the Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya Puraskar in 2023. Dakshin is a children's book, a collection of 15 South Indian folktales, published in 2023.[28][29][30] This book won him the Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya Puraskar in 2025. [31][32][33][34][35][36] Dakshin was also shortlisted for the 2023 Atta Galatta-Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize in the children's fiction category.[37]

Awards and nominations

Work (Publication Year) Award Category Result Award Year
The House of Awadh (2019) Bal Sahitya Puraskar for English Children's Literature (novella) Nominated 2023
Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold (2023) AG-BLF (Atta Galatta Bangalore Literature Festival) Prize Children's Fiction Shortlisted 2023
Bal Sahitya Puraskar for English Children's Literature (Short Stories) Won 2025

Books

Local History

  • The Early Coorgs as Mookonda Kushalappa, USA: Createspace, 2013. ISBN 9781494430115, India: NotionPress, 2013. ISBN 9789383808274
  • Long Ago in Coorg as Mookonda Kushalappa, USA: Createspace, 2013. ISBN 9781494282479, India: Pothi books, 2014. ISBN 9788192914206
  • 1785 Coorg as Mookonda Kushalappa, Kodagu: Codava Makkada Coota, 2018.
  • Kodagu Principality vs British Empire as Mookonda Kushalappa, Kodagu: Codava Makkada Coota, 2018.

Biography

  • The Major who kept his Cool (Lt Col P S Ganapathi, MVC) as Mookonda Kushalappa, Kodagu: Codava Makkada Coota, 2019.

Novella

  • The House of Awadh as Nitin Kushalappa M P, Gurugram: Bigfoot Publication, 2019. ISBN 9788194302445 (modern-day Ramayan)
  • A Hoysala Adventure as Nitin Kushalappa M P, New Delhi: Puffin, 2025. ISBN 9780143471882 (Historical fiction, Girls of India series)

Translation

  • The Gandhi of Kodagu (Pandyanda Belliappa) as Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa (Original in Kannada, by Iythichanda Ramesh Uthappa), Kodagu: Codava Makkada Coota, 2020

Children's Folk Tale Collection

Folk Tale Collection

  • Folktales, Myths and Legends from the Deccan as Nitin Kushalappa, New Delhi: Rupa, 2026. ISBN 978-9376461677[1][24]

References

  1. ^ "Nitin Kushalappa wins Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar". Star of Mysore. 21 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  2. ^ "Nitin Kushalappa | Kodagu First". KodaguFirst. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  3. ^ Express Bureau, Kodagu (20 June 2025). "Kodagu Author Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa Wins Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar". The Kodagu Express. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  4. ^ a b Zachariah, Preeti (2 April 2014). "Tales from the hills". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b "'Are Kodavas (Coorgs) Hindus?' book launch". Star of Mysore. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Mookonda Kushalappa's recent newspaper articles". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  7. ^ Poovaiah, Dhanyata. "Mastering the balancing act". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  8. ^ Poovaiah, Dhanyata. "Efforts to preserve Kodava takk". Deccan Herald. The Printers Mysore Ltd. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  9. ^ "The Lead: The uniqueness of Kodava culture". Deccan Herald. The Printers Mysore Ltd. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Museum with native voices; IFA invites design experts and community members". Auth India. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  11. ^ Raju, Sowmya (17 May 2022). "Online museum to archive stories about Kodavas". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  12. ^ GR, Prajna (29 May 2022). "Karnataka: A project to establish virtual museum to chronicle Kodava heritage underway". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Do you know of this living museum of Kodava culture?". Live Mint. Mint Lounge. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  14. ^ "The discovery of an old alphabet". Deccan Herald. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Discovering Alphabets Of Old Kodava Script". Star of Mysore. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Letters and sounds over the years". 10 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  17. ^ Madhavan, Anushree. "Moral stories from the south". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Moral stories from the south | Kodagu First". KodaguFirst. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Folktales & Fables week: Myths and legends worth retelling". Mint Lounge. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Youth urged to join the army". Star of Mysore. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  21. ^ "NEW BOOK SEEKS RELIGIOUS MINORITY STATUS FOR KODAVAS (COORGS)". Coorg News. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  22. ^ "About the author". Penguin Books. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  23. ^ a b Kambiri, Kriti (2026-05-20). "Book Review | A rich inheritance of South's storytelling traditions". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  24. ^ "Review of book 'Dakshin' based on morals and South Indian culture". Mid-day. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  25. ^ "A new book retells folk tales, myths and fables from Southern India for young readers". Scroll.in. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  26. ^ "7 books to put on your reading list in April". Mintlounge. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Children's Day Special: Seven books set in South India that are a must on young adult bookshelves". SF Features Desk. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  28. ^ "New Releases - GurgaonMoms". 17 June 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  29. ^ "Children's Day Special: Seven Children's books from South India". The South First. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  30. ^ "Sahitya Akademi 2025: Yuva, Bal Sahitya Puraskar Winners Announced". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  31. ^ "Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar announced for 23 writers, and Bal Puraskar for 24 authors". The Hindu. The Hindu Bureau. 18 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  32. ^ Network, Post News (18 June 2025). "Odia writers Subrat Kumar Senapati, Rajakishore Parhi win Sahitya Akademi Yuva, Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 - OrissaPOST". Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  33. ^ "Sahitya Akademi announces Bal Sahitya, Yuva Puraskar for 2025 (MSN)". Microsoft News. MSN. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  34. ^ "Sahitya Akademi announces Bal Sahitya, Yuva Puraskar for 2025 - The Economic Times". m.economictimes.com. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  35. ^ "Nitin Kushalappa wins Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar". Star of Mysore. 21 June 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  36. ^ "2023 – AGBLF". Retrieved 30 October 2025.
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