Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Feb 21: "Birth anniversary (Jayanti) celebrations of great personalities should not remain confined to particular castes or communities. We plan to bring changes as per which such Jayantis will be celebrated in a meaningful way by the coming together of people from all communities," said state Kannada and culture minister C T Ravi.
He was speaking at the Sarvajna Jayanti programme organized by the department of Kannada and culture at Nayana auditorium in the city on Thursday February 20. "We are not justified in limiting the celebration of birth anniversaries of great men to their castes. The ideologies and way of living of great people should be a model for everyone. Therefore, we will discuss with the chief minister and leaders of the opposition about the way in which such birth anniversaries can be celebrated meaningfully," he said.
Ravi stated tjat he is sad at the way such Jayantis are being celebrated in a symbolic way now by the government. He said that if he is compelled to stay put with this style of celebrations, he is even prepared to sacrifice the post of the minster.
He said that many have failed to properly assimilate the prose of saint Sarvajna. He said that people indulge in politics in these things, duly recollecting that politics had come into play in the unveiling of poet Thiruvalluvar's statue in the city. He recalled that the then BJP government had held discussions with the then Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi and arranged to install Sarvajna's statue at Chennai.
Lecturer, Malleshappa Guttennavar, speaking on the occasion, said that a few have created Vachanas in the name of Sarvajna in order to insult this great man. As falsehood is also tried to be spread about his brith place, the government should set up an authority in the name of Sarvajna to study his Vachanas, he demanded.
Leaders of Kumbara Sangha handed over a memorandum to the minisiter seeking development plans for Malur, birthplace of Sarvajna.
Sharanu Kumbar Gundayya Swamiji of Gurupeeta, president of Kumbarara Sangha K Muniswamy, and director of the department S Rangappa, were present.