Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah
Mysuru: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said caste discrimination, untouchability and religious conflicts persisted nearly 900 years after Basavanna envisioned a casteless, classless and gender-equal society. Siddaramaiah recalled taking oath as chief minister for the first time on May 13, 2013, coinciding with Basava Jayanti. He announced plans for robotic statues of 20 sharanas, including Basavanna, Akka Mahadevi and Allama Prabhu, which would communicate their teachings. Equipment developed with assistance from IIT Hyderabad and IIT Kharagpur would help visitors understand the physical and mental effects of Ishtalinga puja at Modern Anubhava Mantapa, being built in Basava Kalyana for an estimated Rs 750 crore.
He said Basavanna and other 12th-century Sharanas had launched a social revolution against caste discrimination and untouchability.
He said Basavanna’s ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity were reflected in the Constitution drafted by national leader BR Ambedkar. Rural development and panchayat raj minister Eshwara B Khandre said Basavadi Sharanas pioneered women’s freedom in the 12th century and described Kalyana revolution as a historic social justice movement. Inaugurating a Basava Jayanti programme organised by Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Lingayata Mahasabha and Federation of Veerashaiva Lingayata organisations at KR Nagar in Mysuru district, he urged people to work collectively to eliminate social evils and build a society rooted in humanity. Basavanna’s principles of Kayaka, or dignity of labour, and Dasoha, sharing the fruits of one’s labour, offered a path towards social and economic justice, he added. Allama Prabhu served as its president, reflecting Basavanna’s commitment to inclusivity.