Latest news with #Sharanas
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CM urges all communities to embrace Basavanna
Mysuru: Lord Basavanna does not belong to one caste, and all communities should embrace Basavanna as he did not fight for one community but for the entire society, said chief minister Siddaramaiah . Speaking at the Basava Jayanthi celebration organised jointly by Basava Balaga Okkuta and Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha in Mysuru, the CM announced that the Anubhava Mantapa, initiated by govt with a cost exceeding Rs 600 crore, will be completed and inaugurated next year. He described the 12th-century social reformer as not only a cultural leader but also a world economist for transforming the lives of millions of people by advocating his Kayaka (work) philosophy of life, as well as the practice of equality, and his social revolution of ending discrimination of people on caste and religious lines. He also highlighted the importance of mass feeding and opposed the categorisation of people based on work and profession in those days. "Basavanna always advocated that all work and professions carry equal weight and importance in building a discrimination-free, equal society," he said. "Basavanna and his contemporaries, like the Sharanas, were all responsible for the social revolution during the 12th century; that kind of social revolution was not witnessed in the world during that period. These social reformers strived to build a casteless, discrimination-free, equal society," the CM said. "By forming Anubhava Mantap, like a religious parliament, Basavanna also encouraged free speech, freedom of expression, and debates to end discrimination in society," he added. The CM also hailed the contributions of Vachanas and Sharanas literature for the promotion and growth of Kannada literature. "These Vachanakaras were also successful in their efforts to spread awareness among people, especially the working-class, by writing their Vachanas in simple language easily understood by those who were deprived of education in those days," he said. The CM also recalled the importance of education, his school days, and his primary schoolteacher Rajappa, who directly provided admission to him to study from Class 5 when his parents were uneducated. He also highlighted the contribution of BR Ambedkar in promoting education and the Indian Constitution, ensuring equal rights and opportunities, and safeguarding the importance of all citizens of the nation. The CM also promised to release necessary grants for the completion of the construction of Basava Bhavan in Mysuru city.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Manuvadis are against Basava's principles, says CM
Bagalkot: There is no discussion in Mann Ki Baat; it follows a one-sided approach where you must listen to what is said. This is a trait of autocracy, criticised chief minister Siddaramaiah . Inaugurating Sharanas' Glory-2025 organised by the Kannada and culture department on the occasion of Basava Jayanti in Kudalasangama, Siddaramaiah said: "In a democracy, there is room for discussion. In an autocracy, there is no room for discussion; it is only 'I speak, you listen'. The approach of Mann Ki Baat is an autocratic attitude." "Vachanas of Sharanas are in the people's language. Therefore, vachana literature has become people's literature. In the past, if a Shudra learned Sanskrit, they were punished by pouring molten lead into their ears. This deprived the Indian Shudra community of literary culture. Due to a lack of education, inequality grew," he analysed. He further said, "Our Constitution is implemented in a society with contradictions. Due to democracy, from the President to the common labourer, everyone has the same right to vote, which is political freedom. However, social and economic freedom is still not achieved. Without this, political freedom is meaningless." He regretted that if he tried to implement the aspirations and values of Basavadi Sharanas, some would obstruct and oppose it. " Manuvadis are against Basava's principles. The Anubhava Mantapa, established 900 years ago, was the first centre of democracy. Economic inequality breeds slavery. The economic principles of Kayaka and Dasoha given by Basavadi Sharanas, if followed, give meaning to the celebration of Basava Jayanti," he discussed.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Mann Ki Baat is a one-way street, while debate is the defining character of democracy: Siddaramaiah
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.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Basava Jayanti celebrated in Belagavi
In Belagavi, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar inaugurated Basava Jayanti celebrations by garlanding the statue of Sri Basaveshwara at Goaves Circle on Wednesday. She urged youth to read the Vachanas by Basavanna and other Sharanas and also writings by scholars on their lives and contribution to society. 'Basavanna is a 12th century saint-poet who fought for an equal society without discrimination on the basis of caste, class and gender. We should remember him by following his ideals,' she said. The celebrations were jointly organised by the district administration, the Zilla Panchayat, the Kannada and Culture Department and the Belagavi City Corporation. 'We should walk on the path shown by Basavanna who spoke against 'othering' of communities and individuals. We should embrace all as our own,' she said. 'If we follow the path shown by Basavanna, we can live our life in dignity. Basavanna and his fellow saints dedicated their life to social reform. If we are living a relatively progressive society compared to the ancient times, it is because of the Sharanas,' she said. Resource person Basavaraja Jagajampi delivered a lecture on the life and ideology of Basavanna. Basavanna ignited the light of wisdom in the deprived classes. However, it is wrong to limit him to one community, Prof. Jagajampi said. 'Apart from his core ideas of Kayaka and Dasoha, Basavanna was also a pioneering Kannada poet. He was a great humanist who reached the pinnacle of intellectualism and worship. He had an open mind and sought forgiveness from everyone,' he said. Mayor Mangesh Pawar, Deputy Mayor Vani Vilas Joshi, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Shinde, Additional Deputy Commissioner Vijayakumar Honakeri, City Corporation Deputy Commissioner Udaykumar Talwar, Deputy Director of Kannada and Culture Vidyavati Bhajantri, community leaders Ratnaprabha Bellada, Basavaraja Rotti, Iranna Dayannavara and others were present.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Basava Jayanti, Sharana Vaibhava celebrated at Kudala Sangama
Basava Jayanti and Sharana Vaibhava were celebrated on Wednesday in Kudala Sangama in Bagalkot district where Basavanna's samadhi is located. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presented the Basava National Award to Sharana scholar and veteran librarian Shivaputrappa Rayappa Gunjal. The State government has recognised the 92-year-old Gunjal's lifelong dedication to his research work on the literature of Basavanna and the other Sharanas. The Chief Minister read out the Vachana, Ivanarava, Ivanarava..., and the crowd repeated after him. Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi released a book, Vishwa Guru Basavanna Karnataka's cultural leader, authored by Veeranna Rajur, Meenakshi Bali and Ramzan Dargah. The event witnessed the presence of several Lingayat seers and preachers of Muslim and Christian religious institutions. Minister R.B. Thimmapur said that it was a matter of concern that social evils like untouchability and caste-based discrimination continued even after nine centuries of the Sharana revolution. 'We need to fully understand the intent of the Sharanas and implement the ideas found in the Vachanas in our lives,' he said. Sri Nijagunananda Swami of Bailur Nishkala Mantapa gave a call for communal harmony. 'We are a secular democratic republic and we should stay that way. Communal harmony is the way forward. We should preserve its character. We need to realise that communal and casteist forces are dangerous and will lead to disaster,' he said. The seer recalled that as a Minister in the J.H. Patel government, Mr. Siddaramaaiah helped set up the Kudal Sangama Development Board. 'Mr. Siddaramaiah renamed the women's university after Akka Mahadevi and mandated the use of Basavanna's portrait in government offices, schools and colleges and declared Basavanna as Karnataka's cultural leader. In implementing various development schemes and welfare programmes, Mr. Siddaramaiah has been trying to implement the ideologies of Buddha, Basavanna and B.R. Ambedkar. Only a person from a socialist background can do this,' he claimed. The seer demanded that the government install statues of Basavanna and his wife Neelambike in Kudala Sangama. He urged the State government to bring out a reprint of the 15 editions of the Vachanas at an affordable cost and run a campaign to popularise Vachana literature among school and college students. Minister M.B. Patil said that Dr. Gunjal was chosen for his work on Vachana literature. 'Dr. Gunjal has worked on documentation of the Vachanas at the Fa Gu Halakatti centre and has worked along with M.M. Kalaburgi on Vachana philosophy,' Mr. Patil said. Mr. Patil traced the life of Basavanna from being born in a Shaiva Brahmin family to being one of the harshest critics of Vedic philosophy. He demanded the setting up of a university or Vachana research centre on the new Anubhava Mantapa premises in Kudala Sangama. He thanked the Chief Minister for a grant of ₹40 lakh for republication of Shivanubhava magazine brought out by Fa Gu Halakatti in 1920. Mr. Patil sought the help of the State government to set up a Basavanna experience centre in Bengaluru to introduce him to the younger generations. The Basava Samiti has offered to provide land for the centre, he said. MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar urged the State government to set up a tall statue of Basavanna in Bengaluru. Ministers, MLAs and other leaders were present during the celebrations. Earlier, a grand procession was taken out from Sangamanath Temple to Basaveshwara Circle in the town. Folk artists performed along the route. Busts and images of Basavanna and other Sharanas were taken around.
