Mysore/Mysuru: Pointing out that the Indian Constitution has 22 pictures  including that of Ramayana and Mahabharata, Karnataka High Court (HC) Judge Krishna S. Dixit observed that the photograph of the great 12th Century social reformer Jagajyothi Basaveshwara should feature in the Indian Constitution as the 23rd one.

He was speaking after inaugurating Basava Jayanti celebrations organised by Mysore Bar Association at its office in the premises of the Law Courts Complex here on Saturday.

“There is a special meaning attached to the 22 pictures including that of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Tipu Sultan that feature in the Indian Constitution. As an addition, a photograph of Basavanna, who advocated the principle of ‘Kayakave Kailasa,’ must be included in the Constitution as the 23rd one,” he argued.

“Indian culture is not based on Plato’s Republic or Magna Carta theory. It has rich history of over a thousand years. India had a wonderful Constitution in the 12th Century itself which was based on  Basavanna’s concept of Anubhava and Anubhava Mantapa,” he said.

Maintaining that the country had an excellent Constitution in the 12th Century itself, he pointed out that Prime Minister Modi, along with some of his Cabinet colleagues, installed a bust of Basavanna in England, which reflects Basavanna’s global stature in respect of his social reform. “It would be more purposeful if Basavanna’s photo features in the Indian Constitution,” he opined.

Continuing, Justice Dixit said that the Indian Constitution itself is a great Upanishad. Noting that Maharshi Valmiki wrote Ramayana in Sanskrit at a time when non-Brahmins were prevented from learning Sanskrit, he said that the backward sections of the society have contributed a lot for Vedas and Upanishads. It was Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who wrote the Constitution, which is bigger than the Upanishads, he added.

He further said that  Basavanna made the Vedas and Upanishads easier to understand for the common man through his Vachanas.

Basava Samiti President Aravind Jatti, in his address, highlighted the basic principles underlying Basavanna’s concept of Anubhava Mantapa and his struggles for bringing about social equality.

Earlier, HC Judge Sreenivas Harish Kumar, who is also the Administrative Judge of Mysuru District, delivered the keynote address. Mysuru Principal District and Sessions Court Judge Ravindra Hegde, Karnataka Bar Council Member B.R. Chandramouli, Mysore Bar Association President S. Lokesh, Vice-President M.V. Chandrashekar, Joint Secretary K.R. Charanraj and Joint Secretary-Woman. B.V. Vinoda were present.