JOIN USStrive for progress, Kurubas told
Speaking after inaugurating the Kanaka Jayanti celebrations here on Monday, the minister said Kuruba community had been unable to make any remarkable progress even after six decades of independence.
“Securing political representation has become a difficult task. Kanaka Jayanti should become an occasion for the coming together of Kuruba community and chalk out strategy for political empowerment,” he said.
Varthur said he had been making efforts to strengthen the community by joining hands with leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, BJP State president K S Eshwarappa and others. He claimed the “uppercastes” were jealous of his ascension to power and he had to continue in power by winning the confidence of people of all castes.
“I had said at a public meet that a Kuruba should become the chief minister of the State. The community should set up high goals to march towards progress. Unity is the foremost requirement to secure political power,” Varthur said.
The minister suggested the members of Kuruba community to pursue education seriously and appear for Karnataka Administrative Services examination and other competitive examination to secure higher posts.
Member of Legislative Council V R Sudarshan said the benefit of reservation was yet to reach the oppressed classes. The demand a survey on the status of backward classes is yet to be met. He said the works of Kanakadasa should be translated into English.
Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena, Zilla Panchayat president Manjula, Chief Executive Officer N Shanthappa, Superintendent of Police Dr K Tyagarjan, City Municipal Council president Nazia, vice-president L Khaleel Ahmed and others were present.
The programme was jointly organised by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, Kannada and Culture Department and Backward Classes and Minority Department.
Processions
A colour procession marked the Kanaka Jayanti celebrations in Chikkaballapur. Deputy Commissioner Dr N Manjula and Superintendent of Police inaugurated the procession by garlanding a portrait of Kanakadasa at Kanaka Bhajane Mandira in Elepete.
Folk artistes from the nearby villages, children in the attire of Kanakadasa and lord Krishna drew crowds. Members of District Kuruba Association and other organisations took part in the procession, which waded through main streets of the City before concluding at Lakkamma Doddamuniyappa Kalyana Mantapa.
In Chikkaballapur
The Kanakadasa Jayanti was celebrated at various places in Chikkaballapur and Gudibande taluks on Monday.
Preachings of Kanakadasa, a minstrel of the 14th century on casteless society and superstitious beliefs and practices are relevant to this day, said ZP vice-president B Savitramma.
Speaking at the Kanakadasa Jayanti in Chikkaballapur organised at Lakkamma Doddamuniyappa Kalyana Mantapa, she said name of Kanakadasa, the poet-saint who spoke of casteless society, should not be associated with any particular community.
She said Kanakadasa’s preachings on harmonious co-existence should be emulated by people today. He valued perseverance more than anything else, she added.
“His Jayanti is celebrated, but values he upheld are ignored. His preachings are not translated into practices in society today,” she rued.
Exposure to modern education has only strengthened the caste bondage and caste is still an organic principle of identity of citizens, she added.
The event scheduled for 12 noon was delayed by one hour. As members of various organisations participated in large number, children had to squat on the floor till the end of the programme.
District in-charge minister A Narayanaswamy, Union Ministers Veerappa Moily and K H Muniyappa were absent, MLA K P Bache Gowda unveiled the portrait of Kanakadasa.
Mahalingaiah Mathad and his troupe sang the State anthem and ‘raita geete’. Sringeri sisters Bharati and Meenakshi sang invocation which was followed by bharatanatyam (Sharat) and cultural programmes by schoolchildren.
Deputy Commissioner Dr N Manjula, DSP Dr T D Pawar, Additional Deputy Commissioner T Venkatesh, Assistant Commissioner Satish Kumar, ZP CEO B S Shekharappa, TP president Venkatanarayanappa, tahsildar Bhaskar, Karnakaka Milk Union Director K V Nagaraj and farmers’ leader Yaluvahalli Ramesh were present on the occasion.
Women’s group boycotts celebration
Kanaka Jayanthi organised at Lakkamma Doddamiyappa hall was boycotted by the Kanaka Mahila Mandali and some leaders of the Kuruba community alleging no representation given to the community in the programme.
“Only government officials are invited as dignitaries. Deputy Commissioner Manjula had promised representation to Kuruba community in the pre-programme meet. But none of the Kuruba leaders or women have e been given preference” and they walked out of the programme.
A lawyer who was not among the invitees, was given a chance to speak on the day. But again and again he was found saying bolo Bharat mata ki jai and Vande mataram and did not speak anything related to the occasion.
He was not even interrupted in between but as a contrast, the principle Shivashankar, who was invited to speak was interrupted many times, and was not even allowed to speak for 15 minutes as scheduled.