Historian slams govt over Devara Dasimaiah anniversary

Historian M Chidananda Murthy on Friday said the state government was falsifying facts by calling Devara Dasimaiah a vachanakara and conflating him with Jedara Dasimayya.

Murthy sought to stress that Devara Dasimaiah (1040 AD), a devotee of Shiva, had not composed vachanas unlike Jedara Dasimayya (1160 AD). “I have no objection to the government celebrating the birth anniversary of Devara Dasimaiah. But to depict him as a vachanakara is stupidity. The government cannot go against the facts,” he said.

Murthy said reliable historical sources have shown that no vachana has been credited to Devara Dasimaiah and calling him a vachanakara goes against the spirit of 12th century Sharanas who held truth in high esteem.

Noting that Jedara Dasimayya, who came from a humble background, holds the status of an idol among Devanga community, he said the government has ignored the fact that there is a gap of about 120 years between the two persons who share the common last name.