Mann Ki Baat is a one-way street, while debate is the defining character of democracy: Siddaramaiah

The Hindu

30-04-2025

The idea behind building a monument to Anubhava Mantapa is to remind ourselves that debate, discussion, and dissent form the foundations of democracy, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the occasion of Basava Jayanti, speaking at Kudalasangama in Bagalkot district.
'Debate is the defining character of democracy. If there is no debate, then it is a dictatorship and not a democracy. A dictatorship does not allow an exchange of thoughts. It is a one-way communication, like Mann Ki Baat. Those who indulge in it only speak, but do not listen. We have to strive against such one-way communication and keep democracy and the culture of debate alive,' he said at the event organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture and the district administration.
He pointed out that his government had begun the construction of the Anubhava Mantapa monument at Basavakalyan. It is believed that Basavanna, in the 12th century, conceived of Anubhava Mantapa as a place where mystics, saints, and philosophers met to debate religious and social issues.
Construction of mantapa
'We announced Basavanna to be the cultural leader of Karnataka. We mandated that his portraits be put up in all government offices, schools, and colleges. Why? To spread awareness about him and the socio-cultural revolution he led in the State in the 12th century. His philosophy is powerful enough to lead the world, and people across the globe should know about him,' the Chief Minister said.
He said the State government would positively consider demands such as protecting the resting places and memorials of Sharanas and Sharanes. 'We have also received demands like installing statues of Basavanna in Bengaluru and Kudalasangama. We will do all that. We are also planning to complete the construction of the Anubhava Mantapa at Basavakalyan this year. However, we should also attach equal importance to following the philosophy of Sharanas,' he said.
'We keep chanting vachanas against the caste system, but go around discriminating in the name of caste. This should stop. On this Basava Jayanti, we should vow to follow the ideals of Sharanas, including ending caste-based discrimination and erasing blind belief, and belief in fate and destiny,' said Mr. Siddaramaiah.
Idea of egalitarian society
'The real tribute to Basavanna and other Sharanas is to live according to their ideology,' he added. 'Basavanna and other Sharanas lived in Karnataka 900 years ago. They dreamt of an equal society and fought against discrimination on the basis of caste, class, and gender, and against blind belief. However, even now, we have not been able to realise the dream of an equal society. We need to read and understand their ideology expressed in the vachanas, adhere to it and implement it in our lives,' he said.
Mr. Siddaramaiah recalled that B.R. Ambedkar made references to the philosophy of Basvanna in his writings. 'It is because of the fact that Dr. Ambedkar had studied Basavanna and the constitutions of various countries, that he was able to draft a progressive Constitution for India,' he said.
The Chief Minister said that the Sharana philosophy was opposed to the Manuvadi philosophy. 'While the Sharana philosophy is based on equality and ending discrimination, blind belief and social evils, Manuvadi ideology is based on inequality and in continued discrimination, blind belief and social evils. We should decide which ideology we should be followers of,' he said.
Earlier in the day in Bengaluru, he participated in the Vishwa Guru Basava Jayanti celebrations organised by the Basava Samiti and observed that it was the duty of all Kannadigas as well as Indians to remember Basavanna and his ideology.