Basaveshwara (Set of 2 Books)

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Social and Political Philosophy of Basaveshwara

Basaveshwara- Makers of Indian Literature

This book gives a clear interpretation of Basaveshwara's philosophy and addresses his thought provoking radical and remarkable work fostering social, gender equality. The philosophy is not only confined to the social realm but also political and economic realms, and gives a vivid sketch of a secular and egalitarian society with his alternate and rational ideals. This is a lucid portrayal of one of the rare pragmatic philosophies. This book covers concepts of basava and its relevance to contemporary Indian society.

Dr. Chitakoduru Bikshapathi was born in Jangaon district, Telangana state. He obtained MA in Political Science from Kakatiya University Warangal in 1993. He was awarded Ph.D. in 2022 by Osmania University. He attended several seminars. He was appointed as political science lecturer at Sardar Patel College, Secunderabad in 1998. Now present as associate professor in Political Science at Government Degree College Serilingampally Ranga Reddy district Hyderabad.

Basaveshwara, also known as Basava, was a 12th-century philosopher, statesman, and social reformer who lived in the Indian state of Karnataka. He is credited with founding the Lingayat religious movement, which emphasized social equality, rejection of caste hierarchy, and devotion to Lord Shiva.. Basaveshwara's social and political philosophy revolved around several key principles that are analysed in the book by the author. In the first chapter, the Basaveshwara advocated for the equality of all individuals, regardless of caste, gender, or social status. He vehemently opposed the caste system and discrimination based on birth. His teachings emphasized the idea of every individual having inherent dignity and worth, and he called for the abolition of discriminatory practices prevalent in society.

I would have never completed this research work without the immense support and encouragement of my supervisor Prof. P. Muthaiah (Retd), Department of Political Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad. He continuously guided and nurtured my work at every stage of my research. He is always student friendly, cooperative and motivated me in pursuing this thesis. I am grateful for his hospitality and kind treatment during the research period. My deep sense of gratitude will be ever there for him.

Basaveshwara was a radical social, economic and political philosopher. He is one of the greatest philosophers we have, he not only preached the philosophy but also practised it and proved the practicality of his philosophy. Though he was born in an orthodox hindu brahmin family, He went against the inhumane and undemocratic system of chaturvarna.

India's political philosophy I must be both constructive and critical. Political philosophy in India must be ruthless and Basava should join him in, exposed the hollowness of traditions that sanction injustice and inequality. Political Philosophy must play a significant role in stabilizing values and traditions. This will help to strengthen democracy for the benefit of all humanism. Voltaire, Karl Marx and Basava, along with other revolutionaries, had the courage to criticize the social evils of their day that were detrimental to democracy and socialism. They are still the beacons of today's hi-tech society, which confirms the relevancy of the words spoken nine hundred years ago by Basava.

Basaveshwara, also known as Basavanna, is one of the greatest spiritual leaders of India: A revolutionary saint, a great poet in Kannada, a noted mystic and an ardent social reformer, he is hailed as the prophet of a new era in Karnataka.
Born in a well-to-do Brahmin family around A.D. 1131, Saint Basaveshwara studied the Indar, the Upanishads, the Paramar and the like. But his life-long struggle was to eradicate caste distinctions. He raised the common man and the outcaste to divine heights of spiritual realization.
Vachana, literally meaning prose, acquired a new vigour at the hands of Basaveshwara. He caused revolution in Kannada literature both in form and in content. His is the poetry of life. The Akademi has already published in Kannada the select Vachanas of Basaveshwara.

H. Thipperudraswamy (1928-1994) was a scholar who made a pioneering effort to look at the culture of Karnataka in its entirety. He was born in Honnali, a small town in Davanagere district, and obtained early education in his native town and Teerthahalli. His work Sharanara Anubhaana Saabirya fetched him a Ph. D. degree from the Karnatak University. He joined his alma mater as a lecturer in 1964. He was appointed as the Director of the Post Graduate Centre of the University at Bhadra Project in Shivamogga district and also served as the Director of Sri Kuvempu Kannada Adhyayana Samsthe' till he sought voluntary retirement in 1987.
Rana Nayar (b. 1957). He was a creative writer and contributed a few works to various genres of literature such as poetry, drama and fiction. Novels such as Paripurnadedege, Kadali Karpura, Kart Arana Kammata, Jyoti Belagutide and Vacana Virupaksha are based on the lives of historical personalities ie. Allamaprabhu, Akkamahadevi, Basavanna, Nijaguna Shivayogi and Raghavanka respectively. He has written a few biographies meant for children on the lives of Kannada poets and Veerashaiva saints. He was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi award for his Karnataka Samskriti Sameeksbe in 1969 and the life time award of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy in 1985. In the present monograph he has depicted the many faceted personality of Basaveshwara.