Karnataka declares Basavanna as states cultural Icon

The Congress government in Karnataka took a slew of major decisions ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, with an eye on wooing the influential Lingayat and Dalit communities. A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared 18th century social reformer Basavanna as Karnataka's cultural leader. Basavanna is revered by the Lingayat community. Recently, a delegation of Lingayat seers met Siddaramaiah and demanded that Basavanna should be declared as Karnataka's cultural leader.This is for the first time that the State has declared anyone as a “cultural leader”, said Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, who is also General Secretary of Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha. He told presspersons after the Cabinet decision that Maharashtra has earlier declared Chatrapathi Shivaji as a “cultural leader.”Basavanna, a philosopher and poet during the Kalyani Chalukya era, drove social awareness through Vachanas, or pithy verses in Kannada, embodying life lessons. His teachings opposed gender and social discrimination and superstitions, besides advocating inter-caste marriages.

"Basavanna's fight against the caste system, inequality, and untouchability resonates with the aspirations of our Constitution. We aim to inspire the younger generation by declaring him a cultural leader," he added.
Further, the cabinet has agreed to rename Kittur taluk in Belagavi district as "Rani Chennamma Kittur taluk" after the warrior queen from the Lingayat community who fought and was martyred in the fight against the British.The Siddaramaiah government has also decided to name Freedom Park in Shivamogga city after another 12th-century mysticsaint Vachana poet, Allama Prabhu.

(Dr Mysi Patil, State Correspondent)