Minister MB Patil, writer Siddalinga Pattanshetti and others at the release of a compendium of the complete works of scholar MM Kalburgi in Vijayapur on Saturday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Efforts to impose Sanatan heritage on folk history and culture continue and people must resist such attempts to “Sanatanize” our original cultures, said Sharat Chandra Swami of Kunduru Math, Vijayapur.
He was speaking at the publication of compendia of the complete works of the late MM Kalburgi, a scholar in Fa. Gu. Halkatti Research Center in Vijayapur on Saturday.
“We should never forget that India is a land of multi-religious groups, diverse cultures, languages and regions. But there are some vested interests who try to deny this fact and try to claim that only one thought process is correct and the rest are not. I call this an attempt at ‘Sanatanization’.” Such efforts should be academically resisted,” he said, adding that there is a need to identify such trends.
“We need to protect and preserve schools of thought that remain brave in the face of intimidation.”
The seer described Kalburgi as a fearless crusader and dynamic researcher who studied history and picked lessons for today. “India is a country that had a rich heritage of conversation,” he said, lamenting the loss of that culture.
A demand for justice
Mahantesh Biradar, secretary of the research centre, demanded speedy justice in the 2015 killing of Kalburgi in Dharwad.
“The investigation into the murder should not stop at those who participated in the crime, it should identify those behind the plot to brainwash young people and provoke them to do such things,” he said.
Siddalinga Pattanshetti, a writer and close associate of Kalburgi, recalled the late scholar’s methodology. “He lived by his principles. Some vested interests tried to erase him from our memories, but they failed,” he said.
MB Patil, minister and chairman of BLDE said that BLDE will bring out an international edition of the introductory volume on the life and contribution of Basavanna. He appreciated Kalburgi’s deeper understanding of “Lingayatism” and ability to simplify complex issues.
Published – 15 Nov 2025 20:20 IST
