Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the State government was contemplating setting up an international study and research centre on the 12th century social reformer Basavanna soon.
Speaking after conferring the “Basavashree” award on renowned scientist and Bharat Ratna CNR Rao and “Vachana Sahitya Shree” award on writer Latha Rajashekar and Sharana Sahitya researcher R Shivanna, Siddaramaiah said he will discuss the modalities for setting up the centre with the department of Kannada and Culture.
“Basavanna fought for social justice.
It is only when social and economic equality is ushered in the society that casteism will come down.
The centre will study and spread the teachings of Basavanna.
It is only when we follow his teachings in our daily life that we will be paying our real respect to Basavanna,” the chief minister said.
He said the government will organise a State felicitation to CNR Rao during the first or second week of June for being conferred the Bharat Ratna.
Speaking on the occasion, Rao said he believed in the existence of God and that He manifests in many forms.
Rao recalled that his mother used to read out the vachanas of Basavanna when he was a child. Latha Rajashekar said the teachings of Basavanna are relevant even today.
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