Basava Jayanti celebrated in Belagavi

Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar inaugurates Basava Jayanti celebrations in Belagavi, emphasizing Basavanna's teachings of equality and social reform.

In Belagavi, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar inaugurated Basava Jayanti celebrations by garlanding the statue of Sri Basaveshwara at Goaves Circle on Wednesday.

She urged youth to read the Vachanas by Basavanna and other Sharanas and also writings by scholars on their lives and contribution to society.

“Basavanna is a 12th century saint-poet who fought for an equal society without discrimination on the basis of caste, class and gender. We should remember him by following his ideals,” she said.

The celebrations were jointly organised by the district administration, the Zilla Panchayat, the Kannada and Culture Department and the Belagavi City Corporation.

“We should walk on the path shown by Basavanna who spoke against ‘othering’ of communities and individuals. We should embrace all as our own,” she said.

“If we follow the path shown by Basavanna, we can live our life in dignity. Basavanna and his fellow saints dedicated their life to social reform. If we are living a relatively progressive society compared to the ancient times, it is because of the Sharanas,” she said.

Resource person Basavaraja Jagajampi delivered a lecture on the life and ideology of Basavanna. Basavanna ignited the light of wisdom in the deprived classes. However, it is wrong to limit him to one community, Prof. Jagajampi said.