Praise:Agriculture Minister Pocharam Reddy at a gathering in Nizamabad on Monday.– Photo: K.V. RAMANA
Minister for Agriculture Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said Mahatma Basaveswarudu was as a great social reformer, a holy man who dedicated his entire life to social reforms and society.
Participating as the chief guest at the jayanti celebrations of Basaveswara, founder of the Veera Shaivam, a kind of faith in Hinduism, he said the sage belonged to 12th Century AD and the first person to enlighten the people on the concept that all people were equal and had equal rights.
Since he was such a great figure, his statue was unveiled in front of the Parliaments of India and U.K., and the Indian government issued a coin with his picture on it, he said. Basaveswarudu belonged to all and not to a particular community. When the society follows his teachings and abide by them, it can be the real tribute to the reformer, said the Minister.
Collector Yogitha Rana said that the Telangana government for the first time decided to celebrate Mahatma Basaveswara jayanti officially, recognising his personality and social work in ancient days.