'Society turning slave of mutts'

He was speaking at a programme organised to celebrate 106th birth anniversary of Kuvempu, organised by Vishwamanava Vidyarthi Yuva Vedike at Jaganmohana palace here on Wednesday.

Channabasappa said when Kuvempu penned his poems, he hoped to sent a message to the society to develop a secular thought and love people all around. However, the dreams of the great poet seems to have been diluted in the course of time.

The society is increasingly becoming self centric and are identifying with caste, community and mutts. “We have named many streets and circles after the great poet and adopted his key words for the same. But, the society has failed to adopt his principles and ideals,” he bemoaned.

The writer said great poets have called for renouncing caste and community feelings since time immemorial. Pampa declared “Manushya Kula Thanonde Valam” long back. But, the society continued to nurture the caste system. A few vested interests have always tried to keep the caste system alive for their own benefits and to disintegrate the country on the lines of caste and religion, he said.

Recalling Kuvempu as a man who adopted and followed the principles what he taught to others, he sad they need to introspect whether we have been able to adopt his ideals, he added.  On the occasion, Dr Prabhushankara was felicitated.

In his address, Prof Prabhushankara, a student of Kuvempu said the country would witness a social harmony and progress even if individuals adopted atleast one of the principles out of many ideals of Kuvempu. The writer not just became a great personality only through his writings, but also through his lifestyle and principles, he stated.

Former vice-chancellor of Kuvempu University Dr S Ramegowda, who inaugurated the programme, termed Kuvempu as a social reformer besides being a poet and writer.
Secretary of Marimallappa’s Educational Institution Prof K N Panchakshara Swamy, Dr C Jayanna, Prof K S Bhagwan, DCP Basavaraj Malagatti, Deputy Director of Pre-University Education Chandramma, journalist Ravindra Joshi, former mayor Vasu and others were present. Students who secured highest marks in SSLC and PUC were felicitated on the occasion.