Deve Gowda pays tribute to Basaveshwara statue in London

Media Release
October 27, 2018

London, Oct 27: The Former Prime Minister of India H D Deve Gowda paid tribute to Basaveshwara statue in London on Friday, October 26. He was accompanied by Member of Parliament Kupendra Reddy.

The event was organized by The Basaveshwara Foundation, a non-profit organization based in UK that has erected the statue of Basaveshwara on the bank of river Thames.

Former Mayor of London borough of Lambeth and Chairman of the Basaveshwara foundation Dr Neeraj Patil welcomed the Prime Minister & Member of Parliament Shri Kupendra Reddy on behalf of the British Indian/Kannada community.

Members of the two important Kannada Diaspora organizations, Kannadigaru UK and Sandalwood UK, joined the Hon Prime Minister on this important occasion.

Basaveshwara fought for eradication of caste discrimination and social justice in the Indian society and unfortunately India still remains divided along caste and religious lines and this must end, there is no place for discrimination in the modern world, said the Former Prime Minister.

The Hon Former Prime Minister expressed tribute to Basaveshwara for his contribution towards democracy and social justice in India. He said, I am extremely delighted to see the statue of an Indian philosopher in the backdrop of British Parliament overlooking the river Thames. This makes every Indian & Kannadiga proud.

The project was approved by the planning department of The London borough of Lambeth and subsequently by the British Cabinet minister for culture media and sports as per the Public Statues Act, 1854. The Basaveshwara statue and its vicinity is the intellectual property of the Basaveshwara Foundation.

The Basaveshwara statue erected at the Albert Embankment is not only the first statue to be unveiled by an Indian Prime Minister in the UK, but is also the first conceptual statue approved by the British Cabinet in the vicinity of the Parliament. This is located at Albert Embankment in London opposite the British Parliament.

The approval was given as a mark of respect to 12th century Indian Philosopher and social reformer Basaveshwara for promoting democratic ideals, social justice and gender equality during the 12th century. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Basaveshwara statue 14th November 2015 in London.

Comments

Wellwisher
 - 
Saturday, 27 Oct 2018

No doubt Basaveshwara was one the reformers in Kannada Nadu.

The tribute for such people is not by errecting their statue.

 

A tribute and memory is by implementing, propogating their ideologies. The amount spent for statues should be reserved for such purpoese, so that the purpose is served.

 

 

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News Network
April 21,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 21: An FIR has been filed against a Kannada TV anchor allegedly for organising a guest packed wedding at a resort near Bengaluru last week amid lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Police got the tip-off about the event held on April 18 by locals residing near the resort. Around 20 people were present there to attend the wedding.

The FIR has been filed under National Disaster Management Act (NDMA) and Section 188 and 269 of the Indian Penal Code.

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News Network
February 4,2020

Shivamogga, Feb 4: Students of a government primary school which is built especially for the children of manual scavengers, have been facing tough times during classes as the filthy drainage passing through the school premises excrete human excreta and sludge.

The drainage passes through GSPL Scavenger's Colony School in Shivamogga city, located behind the state road transport corporation's bus stand (KSRTC).

According to the locals here, students studying in this school often fall sick due to the waste flowing from the drainage.

Penchelayya, the father of a child who studies in the same school said, "Human excreta floats in the drainage as it is connected to two toilets. The school stinks and students often fall sick due to the drainage."

The students studying here are unable to bear the foul smell emanating from the drainage which flows at the school's premises.

He added that waste from private bus stands is dumped in this drainage which ultimately flows here creating an extremely unhygienic environment for the people living here and students studying in this school.

He further claimed that the government is not ready to listen to their grievances.

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Agencies
January 1,2020

Kanpur, Jan 1: In a seemingly bizarre development, the IIT in Kanpur has set up a panel to decide whether the poem "Hum dekhenge lazim hai ki hum bhi dekhenge", penned by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, is anti-Hindu.

The panel has been set up in response to complaints filed by a faculty member who claimed that the students, during a protest, sang this poem which was anti-Hindu.

The poem reads thus -- "Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge. Jab arz-e-Khuda ke kaabe se. Sab bhut uthwaye jayenge, Hum ahl-e-safa mardood-e-harm. Masnad pe bithaye jayenge. Sab taaj uchale jaenge. Sab takht giraye jayenge. Bas naam rahega Allah ka. Hum dekhenge."

It was the last line that has turned into a bone of contention. Translated into English, it means, 'When thrones will vanish, only Allah's name will remain' -- implying the misleading translation by the professor.

The poem had been written by Faiz in reference to military dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1979 and was against the military rule in Pakistan. Faiz had left leanings and was an atheist. He was known for his revolutionary writings that kept him in jail for several years.

It may be recalled that the IIT-Kanpur students had taken out a peaceful march on the campus on December 17 in support of the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and during the march, the students sang the Faiz poem.

According to IIT Deputy director Manindra Agarwal: "In the video, the students are seen reciting the Faiz poem which can also be perceived as being anti-Hindu.

The IIT faculty member, in his complaint, has alleged that the students made anti-India and communal statements during their demonstration in solidarity with the Jamia students.

The complaint was based on two lines of the poem, which have obviously been misinterpreted -- "When all idols will be removed, only Allah's name will remain."

The faculty member has stated that "organisers and masterminds must be identified and expelled immediately."

Fifteen other students have also signed the complaint filed by the professor against the protesting students.

Meanwhile, IIT students have said that the faculty member who lodged the complaint has been banned on a social networking site for posting communal content.

In an article published on the IIT-Kanpur student media portal, the students clarified what exactly happened on the day of protest and how their chant was given a 'communal and misleading' turn. They stated that they had recited a few lines of the Faiz poem in reference to the police crackdown on the Jamia students.

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