Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 24: A delegation of Lingayat seers, ministers, and MLAs met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday at his residence, urging the government to allocate ?500 crore over the next five years to promote the teachings and philosophy of 12th-century reformer Basavanna. The delegation emphasized that this investment would be a historic step toward preserving and propagating Basavanna’s ideology for future generations. “This will be a landmark initiative that will always be remembered,” they stated.
Prior to the meeting with the Chief Minister, religious leaders, ministers, and legislators from the Lingayat community convened at the residence of Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil in Bengaluru. The gathering included swamijis, legislators, former legislators, and key community leaders from across the state.
The delegation submitted a formal memorandum to the Chief Minister at his official residence, Kaveri, outlining several key demands. These included an initial budget allocation of ?100 crore in the upcoming budget, with a total of ?500 crore over five years, to disseminate the teachings of Vishwaguru Basaveshwara, Karnataka’s declared cultural leader. They also requested the installation of a grand statue of Basavanna on Bengaluru’s International Airport Road, the establishment of a 25-acre cultural and spiritual hub in Bengaluru modeled after Akshardham with a park, library, guest house, community meal center, and auditorium, and the construction of Basava Bhavans in all district headquarters to serve as community and cultural centers.
These proposals stem from discussions held during the 13th Akhila Bharata Sharana Sahitya Sammelana in Chitradurga, where intellectuals and religious leaders stressed the need for government intervention to introduce Basavanna’s teachings to the younger generation.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reassured the delegation that his government remains fully committed to Basavanna’s philosophy, Vachana culture, and the legacy of the Sharanas. He affirmed that the proposed initiatives would be implemented in a phased manner, considering feasibility. “I took my oath as Chief Minister for the first time on Basava Jayanti. It was our Congress government that mandated the display of Basavanna’s portrait in all government offices,” Siddaramaiah noted.
He emphasized that Basavanna’s ideology is vital for an egalitarian society and criticized opposition from casteist elites. “They do not openly oppose Basavanna, but they resist his ideology internally,” he remarked. The Chief Minister drew parallels between Basavanna’s fight for social equality and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision, stating that both are deeply embedded in the Indian Constitution.
He also highlighted the government’s initiative to revive the Anubhava Mantapa, an ancient democratic forum established by Basavanna. “This was not a move driven by external pressure. Our government voluntarily decided to restore the Anubhava Mantapa, the first-ever democratic discussion platform in history,” he asserted. Reaffirming the Congress government’s commitment, Siddaramaiah concluded, “It was our government that officially declared Basavanna as Karnataka’s cultural leader.”