Mysore/Mysuru: Akhila Bharata Sharana Sahitya Parishat State President Prof. Maleyur Guruswamy said that the book ‘Vachana Kusumanjali’ is not merely a literature based on experience, but a literature that is to be followed by everyone in practice.

He was speaking after releasing writer Champa Shivanna’s work ‘Vachana Kusumanjali’ at a programme organised jointly by District Kannada Sahitya Parishat, District Sharana Sahitya Parishat and Kannada Sahitya Kalakoota at Kannada Sahitya Bhavan in Vijayanagar First Stage here on Sunday.

Pointing out that  ‘Vachana Kusumanjali’ is not a large volume, he said that the book contains 201 Vachanas. Observing that the book has the sense of customary practices as well as an understanding of facts, Prof. Guruswamy reiterated that the book is a literary work that underlines the importance of following good practices in life.

Maintaining that though it is difficult to lead life strictly in accordance with Vachanas, he said that the Vachanas have propagated a unique life that cannot be found in global literature, culture or history.

JSS Mahavidyapeetha’s Collegiate Education and Publications Division Director Prof. Morabada Mallikarjuna, who spoke about the book, said that we Kannadigas should be proud of                         Vachana literature.

Stressing on the need for propagating the values put forward by Basavanna, the 12th century social reformer, he said that we cannot be humans in the real sense if we failed to follow at least some of Basavanna’s principles. ‘Vachana Kusumanjali’ is a work that explains all the complexities and sensitivities of life, he added.

The book release was followed by a ‘Vachana Goshti’ in which poets Dr. Jayappa Honnali, Hemaganga, Ranganath Mysuru, M.B. Jayashankar and others took part.

Singers Atishaya Jain and Bhagyalakshmi Narayan recited select poems from ‘Vachana Kusumanjali’ on the occasion.

Mysuru District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal presided.

Kannada Sahitya Kalakoota President M. Chandrashekar, District Sharana Sahitya Parishat President Dr. Helavarahundi Siddappa, Publisher Omkarappa, writer Champa Shivanna and others were present.