Government of Karnataka — 2006

The Karnataka Ratna Award was conferred upon His Holiness Sree Sree Dr. Swamiji in recognition of his yeoman services for promoting education across the State.

Leaders’ Words

Praising his services for promoting education, especially among the rural folk, then Chief Minister Mr. Kumaraswamy and Mr. Yediyurappa observed that the seer deserved the “Bharat Ratna” award — noting that even though he had sacrificed everything in life, through his service he had shown how to love human beings.

He was described as a “tyagi” and a “pavada purusha” — who, through Anna Dasoha and Gnana Dasoha, had followed the teachings of the 12th-century social reformer Basavanna.

The Chief Minister noted that the Swamiji had carved a niche for himself by providing free boarding, shelter, and education to thousands of children from all sections of society. Over the past eight decades, he had dedicated himself entirely to the welfare of mankind.

He shared that he had drawn inspiration for banning arrack and lotteries from a few heads of Maths — Sree Swamiji among them — adding that the swamis of Karnataka had sown the seeds of education in the State well before the country gained independence.

In His Own Words

In his address, the Swamiji said that by announcing his name for the award, the government had put him in a dilemma. He lauded the State Budget for waiving farmers’ loans and banning arrack and lotteries, and urged the government to work towards the elimination of poverty and illiteracy.

On the sharing of Cauvery waters, he observed that the tribunal had done injustice to the State by awarding it only 270 tmc ft. of water, suggesting that political leaders of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka hold talks for an amicable solution — with the waters shared by both states in a spirit of friendship.

The Silver Chair

Mr. Kumaraswamy presented a silver chair to the Swamiji — a chair that had earlier been presented to the Chief Minister at a mass marriage ceremony at Davalagi in Muddebihal taluk of Bijapur district, by Mr. A. S. Patil Nadahalli of Bijapur, an alumnus of the Math.