A multi-faceted personality who was a poet, freedom fighter, and social reformer:

The correct answer is: A) Kuvempu

Kuvempu was a Kannada poet, freedom fighter, and social reformer. He is considered one of the greatest Kannada poets of all time. He was born in 1897 in Shimoga, Karnataka, India. He started writing poetry at a very young age. His first collection of poems, “Malegalalli Maduve”, was published in 1923. He was also a freedom fighter and participated in the Indian independence movement. He was a social reformer and worked for the upliftment of the downtrodden. He died in 1987.

Here is a brief description of each option:

• B) H. Narasimhaiah was a Kannada writer, critic, and educationist. He was born in 1905 in Mysore, Karnataka, India. He is considered one of the most important Kannada writers of the 20th century. He wrote novels, short stories, essays, and criticism. He was also a professor of English at the University of Mysore. He died in 1995.
• C) B.M. Srikantaiah was a Kannada writer, scholar, and educationist. He was born in 1882 in Shimoga, Karnataka, India. He is considered one of the most important Kannada writers of the 20th century. He wrote novels, short stories, essays, and criticism. He was also a professor of English at the University of Mysore. He died in 1946.
• D) D.V. Gundappa was a Kannada writer, scholar, and educationist. He was born in 1893 in Shimoga, Karnataka, India. He is considered one of the most important Kannada writers of the 20th century. He wrote novels, short stories, essays, and criticism. He was also a professor of English at the University of Mysore. He died in 1975.