Mahatma Basweshwar from a global perspective

Dr Somnath Rode

“Basava is the first Indian free thinker” This opinion of the scholar indicates the place of Lord Basava among all other great Indian reformers. The entire world has seen the journey of civilisation and the polestar of the journey is Mahatma Basweshwar. The cause of social equality and justice, gender equality and the eradication of stigma of untouchability is undoubtedly espoused by Mahatma Basweshwar after Gautam Buddha. There is difference of 1700 years in between Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Basweshwar but the latter seems to be Gautam Buddha of the 6th Century B.C. and Gautam Buddha seems Mahatama Basweshwar in the 12th century.

England is considered to be the mother of Parliament. The Parliament of England came into existence after Magna Carta was granted by the then British King. Mahatma Basweshwar created world’s first social, religious and spiritual Parliament by the foundation of “Anubhav Mantapam” This Parliament was not ‘House of Lords’ but it was ‘House of Commons’ only. Basweshwara accomplished his cherished goal not by engaging himself solely in religious practices like ritual worship and meditation but by actively and vigorously applying his energies for the service of his fellowmen. The number of members of “Anubhav Mantapam” is more than today’s Parliament i.e. 770 with the inclusion of 77 women members. Our current Parliament includes only 62 women members. The President of the “Anubhav Mantapam” belonged to extreme lower category of the society whose name was Allamprabhu. Akka Mahadevi also had a vital role in this religio-spiritual Parliament. The revolutionary credibility of the upliftment of the women and lower caste undoubtedly goes to Mahatma Basavanna. In the Vachana Sahitya women had also contributed a lot in the 12th century. The representatives of all castes and creed were included in Basavanna’s “Anubhav Mantapam”. The idea that came up while living a passionate life and practicing it was accepted by the Parliament, getting the status of official “Vachan” and further included in “Vachan Sahitya”.

The reference of Global Social revolution is mainly given from French Revolution. The first spark of social, political and religious revolution was lit in the early eighteenth century by Rousseau, Montesquieu, Voltaire and Diderot. Actually the great values like Freedom, Equality and Fraternity were given by French revolution but in fact the follow up of this value was done by Mahatma Basweshwar 650 years before the French Revolution. In the 12th century Mahatma Basweshwar set up sign of social equality and justice and therefore he should be given the leading position in the history of social revolution of the world.

In the history of the world Martin Luther is referred as the first rebel of the spiritual and religious revolution. There is so much similarity found in Mahatma Basaveshwara’s Vachan Movement and Martin Luther’s Protestant Movement.

Mahatma Basaveshwara was thus a visionary far ahead of his time.

(The writer is senior historian and former principal of Mahatma Basweshwar College, Latur).