Though the 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara struggled against an exploitative patriarchal system to create a new world order where women enjoyed equal rights and people are not discriminated against on the basis of religion or caste, such a system is still in vogue, N. Jayaram, Deputy Commissioner, has said.
He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Basava Jayanti celebrations organised by the district administration, Belagavi City Corporation and Kannada and Culture Department.
Highlighting the values and preachings of Basaveshwara and the vachanakaras, he called upon the educated youth to promote inter-caste marriages, which would go a long way in rooting out discrimination on the basis of caste. Mr. Jayaram also pointed that the contemporary society was satisfied with materialistic way of life. There were symbolic celebrations of Basava Jayanti, but the society had not inculcated the values preached by the social reformer, such as “work is worship”.
“When nobody follows the values of Basaveshwara today, it will make a great difference even if 10 per cent of the population followed his principles,” Mr. Jayaram said.
Prabhakar Kore, MP, suggested against observing a holiday on Basava Jayanti day, as it would be in sharp contrast with the philosophy “work is worship”. He said ‘Anubhav Mantap’, the largest parliament of the world, had equal opportunity for all, including women. Ranjana Godi, lecturer in Lingaraj College, delivered a lecture highlighting the principles of “work is worship” and ‘dasoha’ among Lingayats.
Procession
A cultural procession consisting of tableaux depicting Basaveshwara’s philosophy and messages of Akka Mahadevi, Allam Prabhu and other Vachankars of 12th century was taken out in the evening.
Small Scale Industries Minister Satish L. Jarkiholi, who is also the district in-charge, did not attend the function.
Sanjay B. Patil, MLA, the former Mayor and veteran Lingayat leader Siddangouda Patil, and Superintendent of Police Ravikanthe Gowda were present.
Tributes paid
In Hubballi-Dharwad, tributes were paid to the Basaveshwara.
Inaugurating the Basava Jayanti programme at Hubballi the tahasildar H.D. Nagavi said that Basaveshwara and his works have been immortalised by the Vachana literature, which have been the guiding spirit to the society even today. Basavanna’s social reforms movement in the 12{+t}{+h}century was one of the rare achievements in the history of ancient India, he said.
Department of Information senior assistant director C. P. Mayachari said the Vachana literature was among those early efforts to take the tenets of spirituality to the masses through the medium of literature.
These compositions were simple in nature. Their contents are reasonable and leaves a deep impact on the minds of the listeners, he said.
A procession was taken out in Dharwad. The Dharwad MLA Vinay Kulkarni, former MLA Chandrakant Bellad and others took part in the procession.
Later, a public function was held at Murugha Math. Various organisations and religious institutes celebrated the Basava Jayanti in the city.
Procession taken out
In Ballari and Koppal floral tributes were offered to the statue of social reformer Basaveshwara and a procession was taken out for Basava Jayanti celebrations.
Several elected representatives, including Anil Lad, B. Sriramulu, Mayor . Nagamma among others, offered floral tributes to the bronze statue at HRG circle in the city in the morning.
At Koppal, Raghavendra Hitnal, MLA, who offered floral tribute to the statue, said that the preachings of Basavaeshwara was still relevant in one’s life and exhorted the people to follow them to lead a pious life.
Ms. Basamma Halligudi, President of City Municipal Council, Suresh Itnal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, P.M. Manjunath, Assistant Commissioner, were among other elected representatives and officials present.
