Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil translated volumes of Vachana, penned by 12th century social reformer Basavanna and other saints in 23 Indian languages, on the social reformer’s birth anniversary today.
Mr Modi will also release the digital version of the work at the first ever celebration of Basava Jayanthi at the national level in New Delhi. According to information received, Vachana is a prosaic form well known in the Kannada literature which propagate values of universal brotherhood. This style of writing was used by Basavanna for spreading social awareness and bring equality in the society in the 12th century.
The 23 Vachana volumes, edited by esteemed literary scholar late M M Kalburgi and translated by more than 200 people, was commissioned by the Bengaluru based Basava Samithi at a cost of 2.5 crore rupees of which, the Karnataka government contributed 1 crore rupees.
Unveiling of the work by Prime Minister Modi will help spread Basavanna’s ideology and philosophy across the country. The event also coincides with golden jubilee of Basava Samiti, set up by former Vice President B D Jatti in 1964 with an aim to spread Basavannas message across India.
