Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday promised to provide financial assistance to bring out the third volume on Vachana literature, a mammoth task taken up by Basava Samiti under the editorship of research scholar M.M. Kalburgi.
After conferring the Basavashree Award and Vachana Sahityashri Award, instituted by Basava Vedike, on Dr. Kalburgi and writer Jaya Rajashekar, respectively, Mr. Siddaramaiah said Basaveshwara’s dream of creating a casteless and classless society could be realised by any elected government by strictly adhering to the provisions of the Constitution.
Mr. Siddaramaiah, who took oath as Chief Minister on Basava Jayanti day, said he too was inspired by Basaveshwara’s ideology and philosophy. “Change can be ushered in if every politician internalises Basavanna’s philosophy of a casteless society,” he said.
‘Relevant today’
Noting that Basavanna’s ideology was relevant even today, he said, “Casteless and classless society is possible with the sangama (union) of the oppressor and the oppressed class.”
Mr. Siddaramaiah said Kudalasangama Development Authority was formed when J.H. Patel was the Chief Minister and the Basava Kalyana Authority was set up when he was the Deputy Chief Minister. He said priority of the Congress government would be to ensure social justice.
Expressing his gratitude for having chosen for the award, Dr. Kalburgi urged people against misinterpreting the Vachana Sahitya, which was a repository of values. Kannada and Basavanna were the two passions of his life, he said. The State and Central governments had presented various awards to him for his contribution to literature. “Now the Basavashree award is being conferred on me for the service rendered to the Sharana literature,” he said.
‘Put to practice’
Minister H.S. Mahadeva Prasad called upon people to put to practice the principles taught by Basaveshwara.
Siddaganga Math seer Shivakumara Swami, Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami of Suttur Math, MLC M.V. Rajashekaran and Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and M.B. Patil were present.
