Marginalised castes penned literature after learning: CM

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah highlighted the ability of marginalised castes from Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to pen epics and tell their own stories if given the opportunity to learn, read and write. He made the comments in a speech on the occasion of a Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti programme organised by the Department of Backward Classes Welfare at Banquet Hall in Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Thursday. On this occasion, five persons were honored with the Valmiki Award. “Kalidasa, the renowned playwright of Shakuntala, belonged to the Kuruba community. Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata, came from the Besta community. Maharshi Valmiki, who wrote the Ramayana, was from a similar background.

People invented stories about how a bandit like Valmiki couldn’t possibly write the Ramayana, just because these communities were barred from education and learning Sanskrit,” Siddaramaiah said. He said that despite such societal barriers, individuals from these communities studied Sanskrit and created masterpieces like the Ramayana, which is a source of pride and inspiration for everyone. “When given access to education, they excelled and became inspirations to the world.

Valmiki promoted equality and equal opportunities for all. The concept of Ram Rajya in the Ramayana represents a society where fairness and equal opportunities prevail,” the CM said. He also criticised the BJP for not implementing the SCSP (Scheduled Castes Sub Plan) and TSP (Tribal Sub Plan) Act where they are in power. The Act mandates that SCs and STs get a share in the Budget, which is proportionate to their share in the population.