Veerashaiva-Lingayat institutions played key role in promoting education in North Karnataka: M.B. Patil

Veerashaiva-Lingayat organisations and educational institutions played a significant role in providing education to people in North Karnataka even before Independence period, Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil said on Saturday.

He was speaking after inaugurating the two-day centenary celebrations of Heerada Sugamma School, the first school established by the Veerashaiva Vidyavardhaka Sangha, on the school premises in Ballari.

Mr. Patil said institutions established by Veerashaiva-Lingayat organisations had contributed substantially to the spread of education in the region. Referring to educational institutions run by Siddaganga Mutt and Gavisiddeshwara Mutt in Koppal, he said such institutions had provided education to thousands of children without restricting their services to members of any particular community.

He said the institutions had been sustained and developed over the years through the contributions of several individuals and stressed the need to preserve cultural traditions while embracing modernity.

“Artificial intelligence and robotics are making a significant impact across sectors, and we need to pay attention to these emerging fields. With foreign universities entering the country, our educational institutions must provide education that enables students to compete with them,” he said.

Mr. Patil also called for the contributions made by donors towards the development of educational institutions to be utilised efficiently and effectively. He expressed the hope that such institutions would continue to contribute to the development of society.

The seer of Mahanta Mutt, Emmiganur, said Veerashaiva Mutts had contributed to society not merely through religious institutions but by establishing educational institutions and spreading knowledge.

The community’s tradition of anna dasoha and akshara dasoha had contributed to the creation of an egalitarian society, he said, recalling the message of Basavanna that all people should live in happiness. The Mutts had played an important role in spreading the light of knowledge, he added.

Shashil Namoshi releases souvenir

Legislative Council member Shashil G. Namoshi released a souvenir brought out to mark the centenary celebrations. Recalling the efforts made to establish educational institutions in the Kalyana Karnataka region, Mr. Patil said the then Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa had facilitated the collection of a 2.5% cess from farmers for the purpose.

He called for the simplification of government rules for establishing colleges and stressed the need to ensure quality education.

Minister B. Nagendra launched the foundation work for installing stone statues of the seers of Hanagal and Ujjaini and of Heerada Sugamma. He said both he and his father had studied in colleges run by the Veerashaiva Vidyavardhaka Sangha.

Ballari MP E. Tukaram laid the foundation for free hostels proposed to be established by the Veerashaiva Vidyavardhaka Sangha.

Describing Heerada Sugamma as an “Akshara Avva”, he said education, he urged people to contribute to the development of educational institutions and work for social progress while upholding the Constitution throughout their lives.

Former Minister Allam Veerabhadrappa, sangha president K. Kanekal Mahantesh, seers of Palthur, All-India Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha women’s wing national president Veena Kashappanavar, Mayor P. Gaddeppa, Lidkar chairman Mundrigi Nagaraj, school management committee president and sangha joint secretary Meti Yalpi Pampanagouda, sangha vice-president Janekunte Basavaraj, executive committee members and senior auditor Sirigeri Pannaraj were among those present.