Daijiworld Media Network - Tumakuru

Tumakuru, Apr 19: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah delivered a powerful critique of caste discrimination and educational inequality at a cultural event in Tumakuru on Saturday, stating that untouchability is still a harsh reality in modern India and that true educational parity remains out of reach.

Speaking at a cultural dialogue hosted by the Kuruba Cultural Council and the Sridevi Group of Educational Institutions, the Chief Minister emphasized that the dream of a caste-free and humane society—enshrined in the Constitution—continues to be denied to many.

“Even today, untouchability exists, and equal access to education is still not a reality. That is deeply troubling,” Siddaramaiah said.

The event also saw the release of 31 volumes from the ‘Kuruba Samudaya Samskruti Darshana’ series, a literary initiative that documents the cultural heritage of the Kuruba community.

In a speech marked by sharp historical insight and a strong call for social reform, Siddaramaiah recounted how, in ancient times, Dalits and backward castes were brutally punished for seeking knowledge. “People had molten lead poured into their ears just for trying to learn Sanskrit. But today, we have the opportunity to pursue education. We must use it to document our lived realities,” he said.

He urged the audience to discard the fatalistic belief in the concept of ‘Karma’, arguing that it has long been used to justify inequality. “Talent does not belong to a particular caste. We must reject myths that glorify figures like Kalidasa through divine intervention and instead acknowledge that such narratives are often crafted to suppress marginalized voices,” he added.

The Chief Minister invoked the legacy of Basavanna, a 12th-century reformer who challenged caste hierarchies and advocated for spiritual and social equality through the Anubhava Mantapa—an academy for progressive thought. “Basavanna envisioned an equal society 850 years ago. That vision is still relevant and must guide us today,” he asserted.

Siddaramaiah didn’t mince words when targeting religious texts like the Manusmriti, which he accused of entrenching caste-based exploitation. “The upper castes deceived people with the theory of Karma. Did God really write that one person must be rich while another stays poor? That one must be educated and another illiterate? No — these are human constructs designed to maintain power,” he declared.

He emphasized that economic mobility is the only real route to caste mobility, and that education is the key. “Ambedkar used knowledge as a weapon to uplift the oppressed. That is the message we must carry forward. Without the Constitution, many of us wouldn’t have had access to education,” he noted.

Reiterating the importance of schemes like Anna Bhagya, Siddaramaiah said the goal was to ensure no one has to beg for a meal. “Basavanna’s ideals of Kayaka (dignified labour) and Dasoha (selfless service) should become our way of life. The thoughts and voices of labouring communities must rise, and literature is a powerful way to make that happen,” he concluded.