Mysore/Mysuru: Maintaining that the narrative of history will not be a closed chapter, Karnataka Sahitya Academy Chairman Dr. B.V. Vasanth Kumar said history is like a regenerating seed which never dies.

He was speaking after releasing writer Prof. Maleyuru Guruswamy’s historical  work titled ‘Bangaradoddi’ at a programme jointly organised by Mysuru District Kannada Sahitya Parishat and Samvahana Prakashana at Kannada Sahitya Bhavan in Vijayanagar here on Sunday.

Noting that a Devadasi is a woman meant to be a dasi (slave) for Gods, Dr. Vasanth Kumar said that men have tweaked this concept for satisfying their bodily needs and termed them as ‘veshye’ meaning sex slaves. This distortion has changed the concept of Devadasi system, he said adding that this book explains how Bangaradoddi, a courtesan woman who lived in the times of Ranadheera Kanteerava Narasaraja Wadiyar in 17th century became a model to society through her novel acts.

Scholar Dr. Kabbinale Vasanth Bharadwaj said the book highlights how Bangaradoddi, who had plotted to kill the then Maharaja, changed her mind after he started pouring affection on her and ended her life.

Maintaining that ‘Bangaradoddi’ is representative of the inner feelings and ideals of Indian women, he said the work does not have even a tinge of indecency anywhere in the illustration of Bangaradoddi’s personality.

Veteran writer Dr. C.P. Krishnakumar, District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal, former President M. Chandrashekar, Senior Medical Professional Dr. Gurubasavaraj, Publisher D.N. Lokappa and others were present.