Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Dec 12: Days after leaders of Gejjegiri Nandanabitthil condemned BJP leader Harikrishna Bantwal's statement over birthplace of Koti-Chennayya, Harikrishna Bantwal on Saturday December 12 said that the twin legendary heroes of Tulunadu Koti-Chennayya were born in Padumale, not in Gejjegiri.
Addressing a press meet at a private hotel in the city, he said that efforts are being made to twist history. “No one can destroy history and truth always endures,” he said.
Making a serious allegation, he alleged that Rs 13 crore funds have been raised for the development of Gejjegiri Nandanabitthil, from the people of the community. “Unfortunately, a single cent of land has not been registered in Gejjegiri Nandanabitthil. The complete property is in the name of two individuals. Hence, I demand a detailed probe into this matter.
“There is a dispute among themselves over the income which would also lead to bloodshed. Without registering land in the name of the temple, how did they raise funds? Is it not that they have deceived people of the Billawa community?
"Chittaranjan, who was the president of Gejjegiri Nandanabitthil temple's trust, resigned from the post after knowing the truth," he alleged.
He also said none of the writers or the historians of pre-independence have recorded that Gejjegiri as the birthplace of Koti-Chennayya. But several writers including A C Burnell in his book 'The Devil Worship Of The Tuluvas', Paddana of August Barmer and Panje Mangesh Rao in their work have written that Koti-Chennayya were born in Padumale. "Then, there were political parties and it was time of pre-independence by the time British were ruling.
"Now, a few are telling that I am with people from the Bunt community. Let them tell. But, out of 280 Garodi, only 10 Garodi are on the lands of Billawa community and remaining Garodi are on the land of various other communities of Tulunadu,” he said.
He also cleared that the only intention of Koti-Chennayya Janmasthala Sanchalana Samithi Trust is to bring the birth place and provenance of Koti-Chennayya and Devibaidathi in Padumale from darkness to light. "We have come forward to develop Padumale with the only intention to keep the history of Koti-Chennayya memorable for the next generation. Hence, the history of Tulunadu bravehearts Koti-Chennayya will be known to the entire country.
“Koti-Chennayya cannot be confined to a single community. Film actor Vinod Alva is donating his land free of cost for the development of Padumale,” he said.
He also said that he is ready to resign if anyone proves that Gejjegiri is the birthplace of Koti-Chennayya from the books written during time of pre-Independence. He also added that those who claim that Gejjegiri is the birthplace Koti-Chennayya, are the followers of Chandugidi, who helped in the assassination of Koti.
Padumale Koti-Chennaya Janamasthala Sanchalana Samithi Trust office will be inaugurated on January 14.