Educate, organise and agitate should be our mantra, says Karnataka CM

The Hindu

21-04-2025

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the All-Karnataka Yadav, Hanabar, Golla Sangha in Chikkodi on April 20.
He urged the community members to remain united at all costs, and to adopt the principles of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar — educate, orgainise and agitate for their rights — to ensure all-round development. In fact, this should be the mantra for all backward classes in India to escape exploitation, to strive towards a life of self-respect and growth, he said.
The lives of leaders like Dr. Ambedkar show us that education can eliminate slavery and lead a life of self-respect. It is heartening to know that the Sangha has completed a hundred years and has been instrumental in organising the society and bringing it into the mainstream. All castes have become known through their professions. Vested interests used such nomenclature to divide the society. The Golla community now has many sub-castes, including Golla caste, Kadu Golla, Adavi Golla. But all of them need to develop equally and at the same pace, he said.
'Dr. Ambedkar said that education is essential for the downtrodden, backward classes, minorities, and the underprivileged to move towards progress. He observed that there is debilitating inequality in society. The majority are deprived of literacy. By following the Manusmriti, the four-caste system of Brahmins, Vaishyas, Kshatriyas, and Shudras was introduced in society, and the Shudras were not given the opportunity for education. Only those classes who had opportunities got educated and achieved progress in society. Now that we live in a democratic welfare state, it is our responsibility to see that all communities get such opportunities and access to education, health and livelihood,' the CM said.
'Our government is striving to create an equal society. Since I took charge, I have been trying to provide equal opportunities to everyone. I have represented the economic progress of backward communities. Therefore, I am trying to ensure equal distribution of wealth for all,' he said.
The CM traced the history of reservation in Karnataka.
'In 1918, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar formed the Miller Commission to provide representation to various communities in government jobs and education. 75% reservation was given to non-Brahmin communities in jobs and education. Later, many commissions were formed for reservation facilities. If one does not get education, slavery will increase and a life of self-respect will not be possible.'
Mr. Siddaramaiah shared his experience and explained to the audience the importance of education, saying that it was only because of education that he was able to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
The CM said he had received a memorandum from the community for the formation of a separate development corporation for the Yadav community. A decision will be taken after consulting community leaders, he said.