Kannada writer M Chidananda Murthy attacked at CM Siddaramaiah's event

BENGALURU: In a shocking incident, an 81-year-old historian was attacked by a group inside banquet hall at the Vidhana Soudha (Karnataka assembly), in Central Bengaluru on Wednesday morning for objecting to government's celebrations over birth anniversary of a mythological person. Scuffle took place before chief minister Siddaramaiah, who was the chief guest and timely intervention by the jurisdictional police averted the possible ruckus.
Trouble begun soon after historian M Chidananda Murthy and others objected government's decision to celebrate birth anniversary of Devara Dasimaiah, a staunch devotee of lord Shiva, saying the celebrations should be made in the name of Jedara Dasimaiaha, who was a great devotee as well as Vachanakara.
Speaking to TOI, Chidananda Murthy argued that Devara Dasimaiah was not at all a 'Vachanakara' (Vachana writer). ''So, it is not right on the part of the government to celebrate his birth anniversary. In fact, he was a bachelor. Jedara Dasimayya was a 'Vachanakara' and as per records, he had penned 60-70 vachanas. Jedara Dasimaiah and Devara Dasimaiah are two different persons. Jedara Dasimaiaih’s wife Duggale was also a 'Vachanakarthi 'who has written 3 vachanas. She has mentioned Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Siddarama in her Vachanas.
So I object to the government celebrating Devara Dasimayya’s birth anniversary considering him as a 'Vachanakara,'' the writer said, ''When I came to know of the celebrations, I along with same minded people met Kannada and culture minister Umashri about 15 days back and convinced her that it is wrong on the part of the government to celebrate Devara Dasimaiah’s birth anniversary as he was not at all a 'Vachanakara.' he said adding.
"That day, Umashri just noded to our appeal but did nothing. So today, we went to the function and decided to give a pamphlet to CM about the issue. We asked the police to give the pamphlet, which had names of S Vidyashankar, G S Siddalingaiah, Basavaraja Kalkudi, H K Jayadev and P Nanjundaswamy, to the CM, who was on the dais. At that some people pulled me around and the police took us outside," he said.