Mysuru: Exhorting people to stand by those who advocated social equality, former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said, “India will be actually free on the day when all citizens attain economic, social and political freedom.”Siddaramaiah, who inaugurated an event organised by the District Kayaka Samaja Association, recalled the efforts of the 12th century reformer Basavanna to build a horizontal in lieu of vertical caste system that prevailed in his day. “He spread messages about life and society through simple vachanas and Dasa Sahitya to a wider public, who did not understand Sanskrit mantras and chants. Basavanna, along with Mahatma Gandhi, Buddha and Ambedkar, will stay relevant forever,” said Siddaramaiah.Emphasising the lack of any connection between caste and community, the former CM said, “Merit is not confined to any community. In a conducive environment, any student can be meritorious. The BJP opposed instead of supporting reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). They also opposed former Union human resources development minister Arjun Singh’s efforts to increase reservation for OBCs.”Seer of Bruhan Mutt, Chitradurga Shivamurthy Murugha Rajendra Swami said that the Anubhava Mantapa, which was the symbol of the 12th century’s reform and vachana movement, was an emblem of the working class. “This movement was instrumental in bringing all labourers under one roof. The Sharanas led a simple life, and never asked for money. They never had to go houses seeking alms.They were so widely admired that kings visited them. They lived in hamlets, but had large hearts. Contrarily, those who live in big mansions today are selfish. There is a need to imbibe the principles of the Sharanas in our lives,” he said.Jnanpith recipient Chandrashekara Kambara was feted on the occasion. Stressing the need to preserve Kannada, the writer said, “More people must speak in Kannada so the language grows.”Former minister CH Vijayshankar, former MLA MK Somashekar, and president of the Kayaka Samaj Association Puttasidda Shetty, Jnanaprakash Swami and Mokshapathi Swami were among those in attendance at the event.

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