Mysuru: Basava International Foundation, London, All India Sharana Sahitya Parishat, Bengaluru, Mysore Association, Mumbai and Department of Kannada, Mumbai University, have jointly organised a one-day conference on ‘Contemporary relevance of Basavanna’ at Mysore Association premises on Bahudaji Road, Matunga East, Mumbai, on Oct. 14.

The conference will be inaugurated by Dr. H.S. Shivaprakash of JNU, New Delhi at 11 am. All India Sharana Sahitya Parishat President Dr. Basavaraj Sadar will chair the event. Kannada Book Authority Chairman Prof. S.G. Siddaramaiah will deliver a special lecture on ‘Basavanna – An Introspection.’ Basava International Foundation President S. Mahadevaiah and Mysore Association’s S. Manjunathaiah will be the guests.

This will be followed a special lectures on ‘Gender Equality in Vachanas of Basavanna’ by Dr. K.Y. Narayana Swamy, Professor, Government Arts College, Bengaluru and ‘Equality of caste in Vachanas of Basavanna’ by Poet Maher Mansur.

Mumbai University Kannada Department Head Dr. G.N. Upadhya will chair the session.

The valedictory will be held at 4.30 pm under the chairmanship of Dr. K.P. Vishwanath,  Vice-Chancellor, Jyothiba Pule Agricultural University, Maharashtra. Dr. Prabhu Chennabasava Swamiji of Motagi Mutt, Athani, will deliver the valedictory address.

Manohar Kori of Karnataka Sangha, Mumbai, B.L. Patil of Belagavi, L.M. Sharma of London and Dr. Bharath Kumar Polipu of Karnataka Sangha, Mumbai, will be the guests of honour. This will be followed by rendition of Basavanna’s vachanas by Basavalingaiah Hiremath and Team and Shyamala Radesh and Team.

Later, Prayoga Ranga, Bengaluru, will present a dance ballet ‘Singiraja’ written by Dr. H.S. Shivaprakash and directed by K.V. Nagaraja Murthy.

Mysore Association President Kamala will be present on the occasion.