The Hindu : Karnataka / Belgaum News : Celebrations stress Basava's teachings

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 12, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Belgaum

Celebrations stress Basava's teachings

Staff Correspondent

Procession taken out in Belgaum; official function , blood donation mark Basava Jayanti in Shimoga

REMEMBERING A REFORMER: The Deputy Commissioner, T.K. Anilkumar, offering floral tributes to Basaweshwara to mark Basava Jayanti, in Shimoga on Wednesday.

BELGAUM: Basava Jayanti celebrations here on Wednesday reflected the messages of "work is worship" and equality as postulated by the 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara.

The district administration, the Kannada and Culture Department and Jagatjyoti Sri Basaveshwara Jayanti Utsav Samiti had organised the celebrations.

The event commenced with the garlanding of a statue of Basaveshwara at Basveshwara Circle by Suresh Angadi, MP. A procession of tableaux depicting the teachings of Basveshwara and Akka Mahadevi was taken out with folk and cultural troupes showcasing their talents. Ramesh L. Kudachi, MLA, flagged off the procession.

Pujas offered

Our Shimoga Special Correspondent reports:

Basava Jayanti was celebrated here on Wednesday with traditional gaiety. Special pujas were offered at Basaveshwara temples to mark the occasion.

The district administration celebrated the event with a simple function held at the Deputy Commissioner's office.

The Deputy Commissioner, T.K. Anilkumar, offered floral tributes to the portrait of Basaveshwara.

The Superintendent of Police, Arun Chakravarthy; the Headquarters Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner, Doddappa; and the Assistant Director of Kannada and Culture, Harikumar, were present.

A blood donation camp was organised at the Basaveshwara Temple in Gandhi Bazaar. Hundreds of youths participated in the camp.

The president of the Shimoga District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, S. Rudregowda, inaugurated the camp.

The Medical Officer of McGann Hospital, Vidya Chiniwal, emphasised the importance of blood donation. He said blood donation would help save many lives. The vice-president of the Veerashaiva Samaja Seva Sangha, N.J. Rajasekhar, and the honorary secretary, S.S. Jyothiprakash, were present. S.P. Dinesh welcomed the gathering.

Negated

Our Hubli Special Correspondent writes:

G.S. Siddalingaiah, former president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, has decried what he termed attempts being made to negate the philosophy of Basaveshwara.

Speaking at the 900th Basava Jayanti programme arranged by the Basava Chair at the Institute of Kannada Studies of Karnatak University here, Prof. Siddalingaiah said moral values are the bulwark of the teaching of sharanas of the 12th century.

But for reasons not very clear, a systematic attempt is being made to negate the teachings, he added.

He noted that Basaveshwara was a revolutionary like Karl Marx and Mahatma Gandhi. But he is distinct from the two as he laid stress on moral strength rather than economic and political power. Basaveshwara's teachings have universal appeal and are relevant even today, Prof. Siddalingaiah said.

Vinay Kulkarni, MLA, presided over the function. Khaja Peer, Vice-Chancellor of Karnatak University, gave away prizes to Gouramma, Mallanagowda Makari and Manjula Madiwal for securing the top three places in an essay competition.

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