Bangalore: A conference to declare Dalit literature as the future literature of Karnataka and the existing anti-human Brahminical Kannada literature as cattle feed (bhoosa) will be held here on March 9. Karnataka’s most prominent Dalit leader, B. Basavalingappa, who was once dismissed as Minister (1973) for denouncing this Brahminical literature as bhoosa sahitya, will inaugurate. V.T. Rajshekar, editor of Dalit Voice who had taken a leading part in the “bhoosa agitation” then, will preside. All revolutionary writers who have the courage to denounce and disown the Brahminical literature are invited. So also, our readers. For the information of our readers, it was V.T. Rajshekar, then with the Indian Express, who inaugurated Karnataka’s first Dalit Sahitya Sammelan at Bhadravati on Dec.18, 1976., Basavlingappa had presided over it. It was this conference that gave birth to the Dalit movement in Karnataka. Now after 25 years Basavalingappa has once again raised the “Bhoosa controversy”. At a conference of Kannada writers, Rural Development Minister Basavalingappa said on Jan. 1 here that he would stick to his view that Kannada literature was boosa (cattlefeed). “Referring to his controversial remark equating Kannada literature with boosa, which had eventually led to his exit from the Devaraj Ur’s minister, Basavalingappa said: Years ago, I had offended many by my remark. But I shall continue to call your writing boosa, until you writers come down from your platform. Epics like the Ramayana had also distanced literature from life by fostering belief in myths, he said. On the other hand, the Buddha and Mahavira, whose words had influenced a very large mass of people, had spoken in the simplest language, he said”. (Deccan Herald, Jan. 2). He also did not leave out the Indian Express, which hasarcastically said had started a column for him, by naming him as ‘BBB’ and asked all the literatures to read the newspaper”. (Indian Express, Jan.2).
The fields of teaching, literature and media have been a Brahminical monopoly. Brahminism survives through brain control of our people, the 85% non-Hindus. We should not lend our brains for brahminical brainwashing. Those interested in launching such a revolutionary process may come here on March 9. Place: Senate Hall, Central College, time 10 AM.
