Bengaluru, May 7 (PTI) There will be no more wars in the world if Vachana literature of Karnataka is spread across the world, said Aravind Jatti, President of Basava Samithi on Wednesday.
He was speaking at the launch of the French version of Vachanas at the Alliance Francaise of Bengaluru Basava Samithi is a not-for-profit social spiritual institution.
Vachana literature is a form of Kannada poetry that emerged during the 11th and 12th centuries, primarily within the Sharana movement, a social reform movement.
“Now, we are opening up the world to the poems that had once ushered in a social revolution in Karnataka, and helped in establishing an egalitarian society. If all the libraries in the world have a copy of the Vachana literature, I think the world will be a better place, a world where there will be no wars,” said Jatti.
According to Jatti, vachanas were composed in Kannada by saints of the Lingayat faith, most notably Lord Basaveshwara, famously known as Basavanna, Akka Mahadevi, and Allama Prabhu.
They critique rituals and caste discrimination, advocating a form of worship centered on Shiva, envisioned as a universal god, added Jatti.
Jatti said Basava Samithi undertook the project to translate Basavanna’s vachanas in 27 Indian languages and in foreign languages like French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Nepali, Persian and Arabic, started in 2008.
“Now, we are almost done with 38 languages,” added Jatti.
The vachanas are already available in English language.
Releasing the French edition of the book of 2,500 vachanas composed by Basavanna, Consul General of France in Bengaluru, Marc Lamy said the book will act as a bridge between India and France.
“France’s relation with India is probably at the highest at the moment,” added Lamy.
The evening also saw distribution of certificates to those who had cleared Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF) and Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française (DALF) examinations — official diplomas issued by the French Ministry of Education to certify the French language proficiency of non-native speakers.
Lamy, who presented the certificates to the students, said there is a need for more speakers of French from India. PTI JR ROH
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