MLA laments limitation of Jayantis of great personalities to caste

Mysore/Mysuru: Lamenting that official celebration of Jayantis of great personalities and social reformers is getting limited to the caste that they belonged to, Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda (GTD) called for an introspection on the matter.

He was speaking at the Basava Jayanti and ‘Basava Ratna’ awards programme organised by Mysuru Sharana Mandali at Rajendra auditorium in JSS Hospital premises here on Thursday.

“Basavanna, a 12th century social reformer, spread the message of equality through Anubhava Mantapa. Basavanna is a pioneer of social justice and a harbinger of change as he brought even the lowest strata of the society to Anubhava Mantapa as part of bringing about equality in the society. But is a tragedy that the Jayantis of great personalities such as Basavanna, Valmiki, Kanakadasa  and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is getting limited to the caste that they belonged to,” GTD said.

MLC Dr. D. Thimmaiah, in his address, regretted that the caste system is still deep-rooted in the country. Stating that we have developed a tendency wherein we ask the newly introduced persons about their caste after getting to know of their name, native place etc., he stressed on the need for eradicating such mindset. Practising and advocating the principles of great reformers such as Basavanna seems to be the only way for eradicating the caste system, he added.

Progressive farmer K.H. Nanjappa, Senior Journalist K. Shivakumar, Social Worker A.P. Nagesh and Businessmen Lion Venkatesh and Y. Veerabhadra were conferred ‘Basava Ratna’ awards on the occasion.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Shivakumar accused the Tamil Nadu Government of teaching Tamil, instead of Kannada, as the first language for children at Talawadi Schools bordering Karnataka. Kannada should continue to be the first language of children at Talawadi. Also, there are lakhs of Kannadigas in Tamil Nadu and the Government there should take measures for protecting their interests, by appointing Kannada teachers in Kannada schools there, he said.

Suttur Mutt Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, who graced the occasion, presented the awards. District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal, Mysuru                            Sharana Mandali President  Mugur Nanjundaswamy, Directors U.S. Shekar, Mahadevaswamy, M. Chandrashekar and others were present.