Pluralism needs to be reconstructed: Prof HS Shivaprakash
5th May Literary Fest
Dharwad, May 27: Senior writer Dr HS Shivaprakash opined that in the present context, there is a need to reconstruct both pluralism and oneness in the country.
Speaking on “India of multi-religions” at a two-day 5th May Literary Fest organized by the Ladayi Publication of Gadag, Chittara Balaga of Dharwad and Kavi Publication at Papu Auditorium here on Sunday, he said that “We have forgotten equality and coexistence. Karl Marx had called for powerless society. Unfortunately, corporate forces have been ruling the people in the country. We are in a critical situation where we need to reconstruct both pluralism and oneness”, he added.
Religion was debatable issue since two thousand years. India did not have Hindu religion earlier. When Britishers came to India, Hindu religion was brought into practice like Christianity. Earlier, the concept Hindu was not being used in religious context, but it was being used in related to a particular region or area, he opined.
“There are many schools of thoughts and religions. I have not read Brahma sutra. I have read more on non-Vedic traditions like Sharana, Naatha, Shakhya Sufi and other schools of thoughts. None of these would impose oneness on us. All the Schools of thoughts like Bhakti, Sharana, Naatha, Shakhya Sufi emerged during medieval period had advocated oneness in pluralism or unity in diversity. In Jain tradition, they have a term called ‘Anekantavada’. Each religion would evolve based on their experiences”, he said.
The word ‘Lingayat’ is an indicator of Self, while ‘Veerashaiva’ is an indicator of Practice. Sharana community is an indicator and it was used in Vachanas four thousand times. But the word ‘Hindu’ was not used for a single time. So, there is no question of reviving the Hindu religion there. Vachanas were written in over 40 years by several Vachanakars, communities and people from different professions. Many communities have opened up to the literary field to such an extent that no country or literature in the world has witnessed this development. It was happened only in Karnataka. While collecting the Vachanas, some personal agenda has crept and they were collected as Allama-centric and Bassava-centric vachanas and women writers were neglected, he said.
The factors influenced the people most in this election was neither Hindutva nor secularism. But castes and sub-castes have played major role. More than castes, people and communities have tried to identify themselves as sub-castes, Shivaprakash said.
At the end of the session, a discussion was held. Noted writers Chandrashekar Patil, SG Siddaramaiah, Ramjan Darga, Kalegowda Nagawara and others participated in it.
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BJP hatching Op Lotus, alleges Shivakumar as 2 held for trying to bribe Odisha Cong MLAs
Bengaluru (PTI): Two people were arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe Odisha Congress MLAs, who are staying in a resort near here, as part of BJP's "Operation Lotus," Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar claimed on Sunday.
He alleged that the BJP has planned "Operation Lotus'" and was offering Rs five crore to each Odisha MLAs, who were flown here ahead of the March 16 Rajya Sabha polls in that state.
Eight MLAs, along with some other Odisha Congress unit office bearers are camping in the resort.
They have been flown to Bengaluru with apprehensions of horse trading during the Rajya Sabha elections in favour of ruling BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate.
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Shivakumar, also Congress' Karnataka chief, said two persons were apprehended at the private resort for attempting to buy over Odisha Congress MLAs.
"Four people have come. One local person named Suresh helped them; they contacted him (an MLA) online. In the morning they picked up our MLA. Our MLA told us that they offered Rs five crore for each vote. He (Congress MLA) said he is not for horse-trading," Shivakumar told reporters.
"The cheque and everything should be seized. A complaint will be filed at the police station. After that, whatever legal action is required will be taken," he added.
Shivakumar said those caught have accepted that they came for the "same purpose".
"They have admitted it and the process is on to trace others. This is the great Operation Lotus carried out by BJP friends in Karnataka," the DCM said.
Operation Lotus is a term used by Congress to claim about attempts to topple a non-BJP government by the BJP whose party symbol is lotus. It also involves getting the votes on MLAs from other parties for their Rajya Sabha candidate.
According to a Congress source, one of the persons involved in the horse trading is a defeated Lok Sabha candidate.
A source shared the photograph and blank cheques as well.
"They tried to negotiate with the Congress MLA by offering a blank cheque.
Both have been caught and handed over to the Bidadi police," the source said.
Police sources said that they have been arrested.
According to Congress sources, the Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha will take place on Monday. The BJP has fielded one more candidate, which raised apprehensions of horse-trading.
Congress and the Biju Janata Dal have fielded a candidate.
