Former vice-chancellor of Kannada University M M Kalburgi on Wednesday asserted that Basava dharma founded by revolutionary Basavanna was the first religion that led to the birth of Kannadigas.
He was speaking after inaugurating ‘reading, interpretation and appreciation camp on Halagannada’, organised jointly by Government Maharani’s Science College for Women, Government Women’s College, Vijayanagar and Kannada Development Authority in the city.
Kalburgi, also an authority in the field of research in Kannada said Basavanna organised people from all castes and founded a religion that led to Basava dharma also called as Lingayat dharma.
Accordingly, the 12th century can be interpreted as the period of awareness of identity of Kannadigas. However, Kalburgi clarified that he was not speaking in favour of a particular religion.
Earlier Kalburgi said till Basava dharma, the four religions that existed in 10th century here were migrated religions from other parts of the nation.
They were- Buddhism, Jainism, Shaiva and Vaiddhika (Vyshya). The reigning poets then were Pampa, Ranna, Nagaverma and Nagachandra. Among them three were jains and one vyshya. Their literary works centred on Mahabarata and Ramayana, again having its roots in northern part of the nation. Taking this into cognisance Kalburgi described the very period as an era when the identity of Kannadigas suffered a set back.
For these poets, the celebrated rulers of the land- Pulikeshi, Nrupathunga and others weren’t the materials for literature.
But they made ample use of the language to paint rosy picture of their (northern part) land. He said there is a necessity to re-analyse the works of the afore said poets of yore.
On the camp, Kalburgi said that the teachers should learn sanskrit to gain expertise on Halagannada. He said that the very language is a mix of Sanskrit and desi language.
In his piece of advise on how to reach the students, in an understandable manner, Kalburgi said that the teachers should teach prose, poetry and theatre in respective manner. Reading the prose, singing poetry and enacting the play calls for a talent and the teachers should acquire it.
Singing prose and reading poetry spoils the essence of the works and also efforts of the litterateurs, said Kalburgi.
He relived his role as a Kannada teacher for a moment rendering Da Ra Bendre’s ‘Shravana...’ song to the applause of the gathering.
He recited the song to tell the fellow teachers in the camp the method of teaching a poetry.
Chairman of Kannada Development Authority, Mukhyamantri Chandru, joint director of collegiate education T N Prabhakar, principal H B Mallikarjun Swamy, principal of Government Women’s College, K S Lakshman Gowda, convener of the camp M Krishnegowda were present.