Kuvempu Horaata Samiti call for dumping revised textbooks

Farhan Gheta | NT
Bengaluru

The Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Horaata Samiti organised a massive protest against the revised textbooks here on Saturday. Many other organisations like the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, All India Democratic Students Organisation and numerous Dalit organisations participated in the demonstration. The event was also attended by the leaders of many opposition parties, including Congress, Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Karnataka Rashtra Samithi and others.

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar, Janata Dal leader C.M. Ibrahim, religious leaders, writers, scholars, advocates, professors, academics and other well-known personalities attended and spoke at the event. The protesters marched from KSR railway station to Freedom Park, where the ‘maha sabhe’ was held.

A large number of people took part in the rally, with protestors raising slogans against revised textbooks, Rohith Chakratirtha and the state government. “They have insulted Ambedkar, they have insulted Kuvempu, we cannot accept this. Bring back Bareguru Ramachandrappa’s textbooks,” B. Gopal, one of the protesters told media. A.P. Ranganath of the advocates association said that they would continue to protest until their voices were heard.

At the meeting, well known advocate C.H. Hanumantharaya questioned the powers of the revision committee in his opening address. “The new textbooks made without the permission to revise are like illegitimate children of the committee,” he said. He also questioned why nine members from the committee were from the same caste. Many swamis addressed the event and attacked textbook revision. Swamy Nagideva called the textbook revision a “betrayal” and declared that the Swamis will continue protests till the old books are reinstated, and “Sit outside the CM’s house, if necessary.”

Senior journalist B.M. Haneef remarked that while Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was moved to tears while watching a movie, he was indifferent to the plight of Kannadigas. He spoke about the rich history, culture, heritage and traditions of Karnataka and urged the government to not insult them.

Congress leader Shivakumar said that he was not here for politics. He acknowledged the presence of speakers from all religions, castes, parties and organisations. He said the revised textbooks were an insult to every self-respecting Kannadiga. He asserted that if the government remained stubborn then “within 12 months a new government will come” and then the textbooks will be discarded.

He waved a few pages of the revised textbook to the crowd, tore it on the stage and tossed it away. He declared that the Congress will not stop the protest. The Congress leader also called upon people to launch a struggle to protect constitution, and likened it to scared scriptures such as Bhagvad Gita, Bible and the Qur’an. In his address, Ibrahim said, “I am here as a bhakth of Basavanna, a bhakth of Kuvempu, I am from Kuppali, so I am here.”

He issued a warning to the state government that the people of Karnataka will not accept the new textbooks and severely punish them in the polls if they are not withdrawn. Deve Gowda reflected on all the previous speeches. He guaranteed his full support and blessings to the movement.