Mangalore: Basaveshwara a Lingayat saint and prime minister to King Bijjala in Bagewadi was a great socialist reformer, who rose above castes to worship Shiva as his lone God and worked for social equality in his time about 6 centuries ago, in Karnataka.
His birthday celebrations were held in Town Hall on Tuesday (April 24) by District administration of D K, Kannada Culture and Language department, and Coastal Lingayats welfare/Development Association, when Deputy Speaker and city MLA N. Yogish Bhat inaugurated the event and addressed the gathering.
He said that Basavanna in his days of a distant past history in North Karnataka, produced a simple and easy literature of Kannada sayings of wisdom, in the from of his Vachanas to enrich Kannada Literary traditions over several centuries.
His thoughts are rooted in knowledge, conduct and experience that provide peace to any agitating mind out of step.
He created a resource of new spiritual ideas and human fulfillment in life. His sayings are powerful and effective in a human society.
If we take up a single saying and instill it in our own lives, we have fulfilled our desire to pay tributes to him, Bhat told his listeners.
Dr. Narasimha Murthy of Kannada department Gokarnanath College delivered a Keynote speech on Basava philosophy on the memorable occasion.
ADC Dayanand made opening remarks. Ms. Mangala Naik of Culture Department welcomed the distinguished gathering. Ravindra Shetty compered the event.