JOIN USStudents in foreign universities are conducting studies on Vachana compositions. But no serious studies are done by their counterparts in Karnataka, said Mangalore University Ambigara Chowdaiah Study Chair convener Dr Nagappa Gowda R.
He was delivering a special lecture on the occasion of Madiwala Machideva and Ambigara Chowdaiah Jayantis organised by the district administration and the Department of Kannada and Culture, in association with various organisations at Zilla Panchayat Auditorium in Mangaluru on Thursday.
Stating that Vachana literature has solutions to many problems faced by the society, Dr Nagappa Gowda said that only 279 Vachanas out of many works compared by Ambigara Chowdaiah are available today. Ambigara Chowdaiah, who was a boatman by profession, propagated values such as the dignity of labour and self-esteem through his life and works, he said.
Delivering a special lecture on Madiwala Machideva, writer Sadananda Naravi said it is estimated that Machideva was born somewhere between 1820 and 1830 in Hipparagi (Devarahipparagi) of Sindhagi taluk in Bijapur. He rendered his service to Sharanas by washing their clothes. About 345 Vachanas composed by him are available today and they upheld the value of equality.
Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation chairman B H Khader inaugurated the programme. Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr M R Ravi, Kannada and Culture Department assistant director Chandrahas Rai B, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Madiwalara Sangha president B N Prakash and Mogavira Vyavasthapaka Mandali DK and Udupi president Bharat Kumar Ermal were present.