26-05-2025
‘Basavanna's Vachanas relevant as we're still experiencing 12th Century social evils'
Lokayukta B.S. Patil released 'My Me Is Thee' , a book on Basavanna's Vachanas translated into English by police officer Basavaraj Yeligar, in Bengaluru on Monday.
Mr. Patil said that Basavanna sacrificed everything to reform society that had several evil practices and discrimination based on gender, class and caste.
'All his life, he worked hard to create a new social order,' he said. However, 'we are still experiencing some of the social conditions that were prevalent in the 12th century. Basavanna and his ideologies are still relevant.'
He was speaking at an event organised in the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan there.
Mr. Yeligar, who is a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Vijayapura, said his parents introduced him to Vachanas in his childhood and that he was drawn to the underlying philosophy as he grew older.
'As a student of literature, I realised that some translations existed. But I felt the need for another translation,' he said.
He said that he planned to translate Vachanas of Akkamahadevi, Allama Prabhu and Chennabasavanna in the coming days.
Film-maker T.S. Nagabharana praised the collective efforts of the Sharanas and said that Basavanna succeeded in organising saints and reformers from various social backgrounds.
Translations will help spread Basavanna's thoughts around the world, he added.
Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha president Shankar Bidri said that the Australia Basava Samiti is engaged in arranging English-translated Vachanas.
Kannada Sahitya Parishad secretary Padmini Nagaraj, thinker Jambunath Malimath, Florida VV Theology Department professor Ben Gill and others spoke.
Orator Mahantesh Biradar, Sharanu Sabarad, Commissioner Agriculture Y.S. Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjiv Patil and others were present, said a release.
