Udupi: “Book on Evolvement of Devadigas ”; Make efforts to reduce the ‘conflicts’ between casts & religions-says Sherigar

Udupi; Oct 20 : Presiding over the “Charitreya Urulalli Saamajika Viplavagalu”, ( In the noose of history, social turbulences)  a book launching ceremony   held at  Devadigara Seva Sangha,Chitpady,Udupi ,on Oct 18, Friday, Dr.B.S.Sherigar, retired Chancellor of Kuvempu Vishwa Vidhyanilaya,Shimoga said in his address that ‘ Our literary work or we ourselves should not become a reason to aggravate or  unknowingly a reason for collision among  castes’and we should always try to reduce the ‘differences’ that exists between caste and religion”.

Dr.Sherigara further said that according to the constitution, glorifying ancient celebrations is wrong practice and as per article 19, all castes and religions are same. Therefore treating everybody equally, we should not express our opinions, which hurt the feelings of others, he added.

Earlier after the auspices release of the Book by Chief Guest & Guests of Honour, the writer Kavoor  Ramachandra Devadiga briefed the concept and his sojourn that inspired him to pen & print  this book ” ಚರಿತ್ರೆಯ ಉರುಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ವಿಪ್ಲವಗಳು” 

Speaking as a Guest of Honour, Eminent Tulu Cultural research scholar Dr.U.P.Upadhyaya who has Prefaced  the book said that ‘History suggests that in earlier days Devadiga folks were performing God’s pooja rituals. Everybody has got the equal rights according to the Indian culture. Hence on one day, they (Devadigas) might build temple of their own”. He lauded the efforts of Ramachandra Devadiga’s research on this subject and his hard work in bringing out his thorough research on this subject as a Book . If we continue to conduct more researches about Devadiga’s history & evolvement, this theory of  ‘Devadigas as temple priests’  might get more strength to it, he inferred.

Eminent businessman & former President of Mumbai Devadiga Sangha  Dharmapal Devadiga, expressed happiness about the book and later felicitated Dr.U.P.Upadhyaya, who wrote preface to the book and writer Ramachandra Devadiga on this occasionand expressed his feelings about the book.

Former editor of Udayavani N.Gururaj also shared his opinions about the book.

B.G.Mohandas, founder of Devadiga.com welcomed the guests and hoped that the Book on how Devadiga as a community evolved will strengthen the well accepted concept that Devadiga folks once engaged as Priests in many temples across Karavali region and that they lived ‘elite’ social status in earlier period of history. This philosophy must be welcomed by the community at large and wished that the younger generation’s moral & intellectual strength  will get a boost by focused reading of this book.

Eminent community elders Viz. Dinesh Devadiga & Vaman Maroly, & Veni Maroly President & Vp & Mihala Wing  of Mangalore Sangha ; Former Presidents of Mumbai Sangha Diwakar Devadiga & SK.Sriyan, President of  Moodbidri Sangha Rathnakar C Moily ; President of Barkur Sangha  and large number of members from Udupi Sangha graced the occasion.

Prabhakar Devadiga proposed vote of thanks.

Praveen Kumar  conducted the event and Ragavendra Hiriadka supported the event.