The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Basavasri Award presented to Shivarudrappa

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Friday, May 09, 2008
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Basavasri Award presented to Shivarudrappa

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Feted: Award winners Rashtrakavi G.S. Shivarudrappa and Jayashree Dande at the award function in Bangalore on Thursday.

Bangalore: It was a doubly auspicious occasion for Lingayats as Basava Jayanti coincided with Akshaya Tritiya on Thursday. Vachanas penned by their beloved saint Basaveshwara filled the auditorium at the Ravindra Kalakshetra.

His famous preaching of how mankind should live was recited by Justice V. Gopalagowda as he inaugurated the programme. The Basava Vedike, which has been honouring eminent personalities with the Basavasri Award since 1996, chose former Chief Justice V.S. Malimath — a former recipient himself — to present the award to Rashtrakavi G.S. Shivarudrappa.

In keeping with Basaveshwara’s ideology to provide equal opportunities to women, Mathoor Krishnamurthy, Director of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore presented the ‘Vachana Sahityashri Award’ to Gulbarga University professor Jayshree Dande.

The celebrations were not restricted to the auditorium alone; Sarvamangala Shankar and Narayan Rao Mane rendered the vachanas of Basaveshwara at the Basava Jayanti Utsava, which commenced with the garlanding of the Basaveshwara statue at Basaveshvara Circle.

This event was witnessed by the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao.

“I am attending this programme because I am a Basavanna chauvinist and I am deeply inspired by his thoughts and teachings,” said Mahesh Joshi, Senior Director, Doordarshan, who was the chief guest for the programme. Prof. Basavaraj Puranik, Chief Editor, Basava Journal and C.R. Yaravinateli Math, Department of Studies and English, Karnataka University, Dharwad, were felicitated for their contributions.

The organisers had arranged a cultural competition a few days ago for people from all walks of life. Some of the competitions held were Vachana recital, quiz and essay writing for which prizes were distributed.

It was a celebration full of song as, DVDs and CDs based on a successful television programme ‘Vachanamrutha’ was released at the Basava Bhavan. Ravindra Soragavi’s CD, which contained Basavanna’s verses in song format, some of which he also performed at the venue, was also released by Dr. Sharanabasavappa.

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