In honor of the 50th anniversary of renaming the state as Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled an extensive year-long campaign, ‘Karnataka Sambhrama-50, Hesarayithu Karnataka Usiragali Kannada’.
The year-long campaign will feature a ‘Ratha yatra’ that will commence in Hampi and the chariot will journey throughout the state, arriving in Bengaluru on October 31 next year.
The Chief Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to infuse the entire state with a year-round festive spirit, expressing his deep regret that such celebrations were not initiated in the preceding year. Nevertheless, he underscored the government’s dedication to commemorating this momentous occasion.
At the heart of this year-long campaign is the magnificent ‘Hampi Ratha Yatra,’ which will journey across the state and reach its grand culmination in Bengaluru on October 31 next year, culminating in an extravagant event on the steps of Vidhana Soudha. Shivaraj S Thangadagi, Minister of Kannada and Culture, shared further insights into this extraordinary event. The felicitation event also recognized the outstanding achievements of 68 individuals and 10 institutions.
Among the awardees, Justice V Gopal Gowda, a retired Supreme Court judge, lauded the state’s nationally acclaimed welfare schemes and called for greater empowerment of marginalized communities, expressing hope for a future government dedicated to social justice.
The Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S Somanath, fresh from the success of Chandrayaan-3, delivered an inspiring speech in Kannada and dedicated his award to the dedicated ISRO staff. Another notable awardee, Nijagunanda Swamiji, known for his significant contributions to social service, put forth a compelling proposal to introduce a campaign promoting Vachana literature in educational institutions. He also urged the government to officially recognize the 12th-century social reformer Basaveshwara as the cultural leader of Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah warmly embraced this suggestion, reaffirming the government’s unwavering commitment to the profound philosophies of Basava and Ambedkar.
In addition to these exciting developments, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a significant undertaking—the construction of a new Kannada Bhavan, to be named after the revered Kannada goddess Bhuvaneshwari. This ambitious project serves as a fitting tribute to commemorate the state’s golden jubilee as Karnataka.