Gadag: Public anger has grown over the silence of Lingayat organisations and seers following the reported honour-killing of Manya Patil, a member of the community.While Dalit outfits actively supported the victim’s husband’s family and demanded justice, Lingayat organisations remained muted. However, breaking that silence, the Gadag district unit of Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha (JLM) observed a ‘Repentance Day’ here Friday, joining hands with Dalit communities. Manya, 20, a Lingayat who was seven months pregnant, had married Vivekanand Doddamani, a Dalit. She succumbed to her injuries after being assaulted by her family members, including her father Prakashgouda, in an alleged honour-killing incident in Inam Veerapur village, Dharwad district, late last month. Police later arrested Prakashgouda and two of his relatives, who had also assaulted members of Vivekanand’s family. Tontada Siddharam Mahaswamiji of Tontarya Math said the Constitution has accorded every adult citizen of India the right to marry any person of their choice. “However, inter-caste marriages are still at stake because of the caste system. Though Sharanas of the 12th century tried to eradicate this, it is regrettable that a Lingayat family was involved in the killing [of Manya] owing to the caste system,” he said, adding that Manya had married a Dalit youth in keeping with constitutional provisions. Welcoming the govt’s move to frame an act to punish persons involved in such killings, Swamiji pressed for greater awareness among the public on inter-caste marriages. Ashok Baragundi, a functionary of JLM, said ‘Repentance Day’ by Lingayat organisations, to which Manya and her family belong, should serve as a model for upper caste communities across the nation. Writer and publisher Basavaraj Sulibhavi said ‘Repentance Day’ was meant to highlight humane qualities and good sense among all. Condemning the killing of Manya, several functionaries of Basava Kendra, Basavad Dala, Akkana Balaga, and Kadali Mahila Vedike clarified they never defended the accused, though they belonged to the Lingayat community. “Inter-caste marriages, even between Brahmins and Dalits, took place in the 12th century itself, and Sharanas accepted them wholeheartedly. Hence, many more Lingayat organisations and seers should come forward in condemning Manya’s killing,” they reasoned. Shantalinga Swamiji of Bhairanahatti, Girija Badigannavar, S S Harlapur, Shivanagoudra, Sahshidhar Todkar, KS Chetti, Shekanna Kavalikai, Sujata Varad, Sridevi Shettar, Gourakka Badigannavar, and other Lingayat leaders attended the ‘Repentence Day’ observance, where members of Dalita Kala Mandali sang songs on social awareness. More Lingayat groups are likely to come out openly in protest of the killing. Meanwhile, the silence of other Lingayat seers and organisations is being questioned on social media. Ramjan Darga, a Lingayat scholar, said seers, who often take Basavanna’s name, should take up a campaign against casteism and untouchability. “Their silence is an insult to Basavanna, who is accepted as a cultural icon of the state,” he commented. Kusuma Ayarahalli, a columnist, questioned community leaders who do not condemn the murders committed by their own community members. “It shows that Basavanna became a political tool for them,” she alleged.
