Controversial Kannada historian K S Bhagawan stoked another controversy on Wednesday, saying Rama “encouraged unequality and sectarianism” among Hindus, and called upon people to work towards attaining ‘Bheem Rajya’, based on the ideals of Dr Bheem Rao Ambedkar, and shun ‘Rama Rajya’.
Addressing a gathering at a programme organised by Vicharavadigala Vedike Karnataka (Viveka) in front of the Town Hall here, the historian mentioned that Valmiki, who wrote Ramayana, did not refer to Rama as God.
“Verses in Ramayana show that Rama encouraged sectarianism, preferred less power to women and education only to the upper caste. These are not my lines and I am ready for open debate,” he said.
Stressing the importance of social justice and equality, Bhagawan said that development was possible only if people worked together on the lines of ‘Bheem Rajya’, based on the Constitution of India.
The writer also clarified that he never said that Bhagavad Gita should be burnt but had only raised objections to volume 9, shloka 32 of the Gita, which calls women, prostitutes and dalits “sinners”.
‘Food is personal’
Bhagawan opined that the choice of food was personal, not an issue of public discussion. “Eating meat does not make a person cruel or intelligent. It’s a matter of attitude and upbringing. Hitler was a vegetarian but cruel while Vivekananda was a non-vegetarian,” he added.
The writer also expressed concern over the slow pace of investigation into the killing of Kannada writer MM Kalburgi.
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