http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/24/stories/2007072450010100.htm
Front Page Government orders confiscation of 'Anudeva Horaganavanu' Karnataka Bureau Decision is 'absurd and hollow,' says author Banjagere Jayaprakash It has been done to maintain harmony in society: Government Lingayat legislators welcome the decision Bangalore: In an ironic twist of history, a book on the caste origins of the 12th century philosopher, saint Basaveshwara, who fought against casteism and Brahmin hegemony, has been confiscated by the Karnataka Government. Anudeva Horaganavanu by Banjagere Jayaprakash has been at the centre of a ranging controversy for some months for suggesting new theories about the circumstances of Basaveshwara's birth. The State Government on Monday ordered imm ediate confiscation of the book. Making a suo motu statement in the Legislative Assembly, Kannada and Culture Minister H.S. Mahadeva Prasad said that this was done to "maintain harmony in society." He said that Mr. Jayaprakash had also announced his int ention to withdraw the book. Reacting sharply to the Government's decision, Dr. Jayaprakash told The Hindu that he found it "intriguing" that the State Government chose to confiscate the book even after he had withdrawn it from sales on a temp orary basis voluntarily. He said that the Government's decision was "absurd and hollow" in the light of the developments that took place from the day the book hit the stands. Even as some people were demanding a ban on the book, many noted writers, scholars and others emphasised that there was no such need. Terming the whole episode as a politically motivated one, Dr. Jayaprakash said: "The Bharatiya Janata Party and the communities that have supported the issue have only exhibited an obscurantist attitude." He said that "at the hands of such people literary and cultural issues have become tools of obnoxious politics." Appeal Replying to the debate in the Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyiurappa appealed to Veerashaivas to withdraw their agitation in view of the Government's decision, though belated. Earlier in the day, the Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti, quoted the Supreme Court order upholding the decision to confiscate the book Dharmakarana in Kannada, authored by P.V. Narayana, some time ago on th e ground that it was necessary to maintain peace in the State. He said that Anudeva Horaganavanu contained portions which would disturb peace and tranquillity and create unrest in the State. He said that the five-member fact finding committee appointed following the State-wide protests and agitations spearheaded by the Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha against the contents of the book found many points which were totally irrelevant and baseless. Mr. Horatti said that the criticism of the book was based on some references to Basaveshwara's lineage and family members that were "highly derogatory" in nature and amounted to character assassination. It hurt the religious sentiments of the followers of Basaveshwara. While members, particularly those who belonged to Lingayat community such as S.S. Patil, Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli and Basavaraja Rayareddy (all Congress) and the Janata Dal (United) leader J.C. Madhuswamy hailed the decision, their party colleague, the former Speaker Ramesh Kumar, G.V. Srirama Reddy (CPI-M) and Vatal Nagaraj (Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha) opposed confiscation of the book. Congratulated Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha has congratulated the State Government for confiscating the book. Its leader Bheemanna Khandre said in a statement here on Monday that the news had been received with a sense of happiness by people belonging to the Veerashaiva and Lingayat communities and all the followers of Basaveshwara. Vishwa Basava Dharma Mahasabha convenor Dayanand Swami said in a separate statement that the proposed Vidhana Soudha chalo against the book on July 25 had been withdrawn.
