In Karnataka, where drama between the Congress-JD(S) and the BJP had taken over state politics for the past few days, the rival sides have come together to raise one demand: Bharat Ratna for Shivakumara Swami, the prominent Lingayat seer who passed away on Monday.

Initially, it was Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy who urged the Centre to confer the prestigious award on the seer. When the 111-year-old seer was receiving treatment for lung infection last week, Kumaraswamy had said that he will personally write, as well as meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi with this request. “Honours like the Bharat Ratna will have value when it recognises people like Swamiji,” N

After the Siddaganga Mutt seer’s demise on Monday, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, too, made the same demand. “He (Shivakumara) is worthy of getting the title. Such a great man from Karnataka, it is worth to bestow the Bharat Ratna on him,” he said.

State BJP president BS Yeddyurappa — who was also seen alongside Kumaraswamy on Monday during the announcement of Shivakumara’s death — said in a condolence message, “The Siddaganga Mutt was the epicentre of a silent revolution in the field of education and in providing food. The passing away of the seer has created a feeling of orphan among the millions.”(sic) He further said: “Considering his service to humanity, I had appealed to the prime minister to confer Bharat Ratna on Siddaganga seer. I reiterate my appeal to the Government of India to consider my request.”

JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda said that he had already written to the Centre in this regard earlier and will write another letter again.

The clamour grew as Karnataka deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, too, joined the bandwagon. “We urge Central government to honour ‘Walking God’ Shivakumara Swami ji with Bharat Ratna at the earliest. This greatest humanitarian seer is beyond the boundaries of politics and is the embodiment of love. Honouring his work will only enhance the highest civilian award further,” he said in a tweet.

The Milath Education Society in Davanagere also urged the government to honour Shivakumar Swami with India’s highest civilian award. Media reported that honorary president of Millath Education Society, Syed Saifulla, board of directors, staff and students made the request while condoling the pontiff’s death.

However, the demand may not be met so easily. A home ministry official told media that the rules fixed for Bharat Ratna do not cover spiritual leaders. He further added that this may “open a Pandora’s Box” as devotees of other religious leaders may also seek the civilian award for their gurus.

The highly-revered pontiff of the influential Lingayats, the major community in Karnataka, is a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Karnataka Ratna, the highest state civilian award. His funeral is set to be held at 4.30 pm on Tuesday in Tumakuru.

Following the demise of Shivakumara Swamy, chief seer of the 500-year-old Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru, the baton of power at the mutt will now pass on to his junior Siddalinga Swamy.

Shivakumara Swamy has presided over the mutt since 1941. But in 2011, he relinquished day-to-day responsibilities of the mutt and the Siddaganga Educational Society to Siddalinga Swamy. “The transfer was decided over 30 years ago when Shivakumara Swamy chose Siddalinga as his successor. This means that he will not only take care of the day-to-day affairs of the mutt but also be responsible for all the educational institutions under the Siddaganga name,” said Prof Meenakshi Khandimath, a professor of Political Science at Tumakuru University who has closely followed the affairs of the mutt.

The Siddaganga Educational Society runs around 125 educational institutions ranging from engineering to business schools/colleges in the state. Shivakumara Swamy identified Siddalinga as his successor 30 years ago in 1988. Much like Shivakumara Swamy, Siddalinga Swamy has made it a point to dissociate himself and the mutt from political discussions. During the movement for a separate Lingayat religion in 2018, Siddalinga Swamy refused to take sides even as several high-profile political leaders made it a point to visit the mutt and seek the seer’s blessings. “The mutt only blesses politicians for their future endeavours and does not make any attempt to influence the voters,” claimed Siddalinga Swamy, speaking to reporters in April 2018.

Even though there are over 400 Lingayat mutts in Karnataka, the Siddaganga Mutt is considered to be one of the most important mutts. It is also one of the oldest institutions set up to spread Lingayatism and the teachings of its founder Basavanna.

Siddalinga Swamy is a junior seer in the Siddaganga mutt. He was the second seer appointed in the mutt after Shivakumara Swamy took over. However, Shivakumara Swamy chose him ahead of Gowrishankar Swamy, who was second-in-command, in 1988. The seer cited the good behaviour of Siddalinga Swamy as the reason for the decision.

There are still a few formalities to be completed including signing the power of attorney – a binding legal document that will cement the transfer of authority. Sources in the mutt confirmed that the formal transfer will be done soon.

Nasheman News :  A row has erupted over flaws in the actual age of some of the 51 women referred to by the Kerala government counsel on Friday in the Supreme Court saying they were in the ‘banned’, menstruating age group of 10-50 years who prayed at the Sabarimala temple this season.

Kanaka Durga and Bindu Ammini, both in the ‘banned’ age group 10 to 50 years prayed at the Sabarimala temple.

It was after they approached the apex court seeking security that a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice L. Nageswara Rao and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari directed the state government to arrange adequate protection for them.

The list of 51 women is not part of an affidavit, but only referred to by the state government counsel in his arguments. Soon the list was highlighted in the media.

The details of 51 women on the list include their names, Aadhar numbers and, in some cases, telephone numbers.

When the media contacted a few whose mobile numbers were given, they said they were above 50 years of age — hence eligible for entry inside the temple.

The first name on the list is Padmavathy, from Andhra Pradesh. Her age has been shown as 48, but when contacted, she said she is 55.

Anaother woman mentioned on the list is Sheela, a resident of Chennai. She told the media that she is 52, and not what has been mentioned on the list.

Rahul Eashwar, a member of the Sabarimala tantri family, said the manner in which the Kerala government has misled the apex court is “outrageous”.

“I myself called up five such women. All of them said they are above 50 years of age,” said Eashwar.

“I was surprised when one of the women said she never went to Sabarimala at all and had even agreed to join the protest against the manner in which the temple traditions were being breached. It’s a very grave matter that the Kerala government has come out with such a list,” he said.

State BJP president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai said the Kerala government list is the biggest lie, and that this is something that a state government should have never done.

Member of the Pandalam royal family Narayana Varma rejected government claims. “Nothing of the sort happened. We will believe only in truth, and what has been said is not true,” said Varma.

However, State Minister for Devasoms (temples) Kadakampally Surendran told media on Friday that 1.6 million pilgrims had registered through the online facility for ‘darshan’ at Sabarimala.

“Of these, 8.2 lakh used the Q facility and had ‘darshan’. As many as 7,564 women in the age group 10 to 50 had registered. From this 51 had their ‘darshan’ at the temple. We are not interested in finding out how they came and which way they went away,” said Surendran.

Bindu Ammini, one of the women from the ‘banned age group who entered tehe temple, thanked the apex court for giving a favourable verdict.

“I know several women below the age of 50 who came and had ‘darshan’ at Sabarimala, but for fear of trouble, they are not coming out in the open,” said Ammini.

Nasheman News :  Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday said the Central government should confer the Bharat Ratna on Tumakuru Siddaganga mutt’s 111-year-old pontiff Shivakumara Swami.

“I had recommended Bharat Ratna for Swami in 2006 itself for his good work. If necessary, we will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grant the award to Swami,” Kumaraswamy told the media here.

The Swami, who has been in and out of hospitals lately due to advanced age, is currently being treated at the Siddaganga mutt in Tumakuru, about 70 km northwest of Bengaluru.

Known among his followers as a walking god and an incarnation of 12th century social reformer Basava, the Lingayat seer is also the head of the Sree Siddaganga Education Society which runs about 125 educational institutions in the state — from engineering colleges to business schools.

Kumaraswamy said he had recommended the Swami’s name to the Central government for the highest civilian award 13 years ago when he was the Chief Minister heading the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition.

The BJP’s state unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa also said that the party would request the Prime Minister to confer the award on the seer.

“His Holiness Shivakumara Swami is a remarkable personality and has positively impacted crores of lives through his outstanding service. The entire nation is praying for his speedy recovery and good health,” Modi had tweeted earlier.

Thousands of followers and students have gathered outside the mutt in Tumakuru, praying for the pontiff’s health.

By: Lubna Rizwan

Trends by definition come & go, and they affect every aspect of our lives from our hair styles to decorate our living rooms. But just like perms & mullets, there are certain trends from the food world that we forget about completely.
For all the ones that were actually good ideas that have stood the best of time like brunch in the 1970’s there was also no shortage of absolute clunkers like jell – o – moulds, whose popularity defies explanation.

Caesar’s salad became a popular dish in 1920’s thanks to it being the star menu item at a Tijuana resturant run by caesar cardini.

In 1930’s apple pie & Ritz crackers were famous and the other food item was meatloaf. 1950’s was the bright future ahead with modern technology trending to create trendy foods gelatine based dishes & salads.

1960’s were more of fondues meatballs, beef chops & Zucchini bread.

1970’s did brunch with its hottest brunch dish quiche which people still like to savour, pasta & spaghetti served with a variety of cheese & meats. For 1980’s I would give the award to Risotto a popular dish. 1990’swas much of fat free no matter how much sugar & Chemicals were in the food as long as it was low carbohydrates & fat free it was considered healthy.
The year 2000 was dominated by cupcakes smoothies, sliders, burgers pizzas et al.

The year 2010 was all about food trucks gluten free, vegan restaurants, seafood, creativity and what not & they show no sign of slowing down.