Kalaburagi city came alive on a recent Saturday with a splendid procession dedicated to the legendary Rashtrakuta Emperor Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga. Organized by the Kalyana Nadu Vikasa Vedike as part of the Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations, the event was a vibrant display of cultural performances, eye-catching banners, and elaborate tableaux, all highlighting the emperor’s significant impact on Kannada language, literature, and the art of governance.
The lively procession commenced its journey from the Central Bus Stand, gracefully moving through Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle before reaching its grand conclusion at Jagat Circle. Along the route, vehicles proudly displayed colorful posters celebrating the Rashtrakuta emperor, while enthusiastic youths danced energetically to popular Kannada DJ tracks, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Distinguished personalities graced the occasion, including Abhinava Karthikeshwara Shivacharya Swami from the Malkhed Kartikeshwara Moolaadhara Math and Hazrat Syed Shah Mustafa Khadri of the Roza-e-Rahmania Dargah.
During his opening address, Muttanna S. Nadageri, the visionary founder-president of the Kalyana Nadu Vikasa Vedike, emphasized Emperor Amoghavarsha’s remarkable reign, noting he was the only monarch globally to rule for an astounding 64 years. “This is the second time we’ve organized such a magnificent procession in Kalaburagi to honor him,” he stated, passionately advocating for the State government to officially observe ‘Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga Jayanti’ annually and to rename the Kalaburagi airport in his honor.
Nadageri further pressed for the renaming of Gulbarga University to ‘Rashtrakuta University,’ the establishment of a dedicated Rashtrakuta Research Institute and an ‘Amoghavarsha Study Chair’ within it, and the inclusion of historical sites like Malkhed Fort and Nagavi monuments in the prestigious UNESCO heritage list, ensuring their preservation and global recognition.
Inaugurating the celebration, Allamprabhu Patil, the MLA from Kalaburagi South, reassured the eager attendees that he would personally champion the demands for a ‘Rashtrakuta Utsav’ and ‘Amoghavarsha Jayanti’ with the state government, promising to bring these proposals to official attention.
Activist Lakshman Dasti, attending as a chief guest, underscored the historical significance of the Rashtrakutas, particularly their contribution of ‘Kavirajamarga,’ the first Kannada literary work. “Such invaluable contributions must be diligently preserved,” he urged, calling for community efforts to focus on developmental struggles rather than those rooted in religious or caste differences.
Hazrat Syed Shah Mustafa Khadri eloquently spoke about humanity as the purest form of worship, encouraging people to dedicate their lives to Kannada while drawing wisdom from history. Abhinava Karthikeshwara Shivacharya Swamiji recounted a poignant tale of Emperor Amoghavarsha’s profound compassion: during a devastating famine, he is said to have sacrificed his own finger to Goddess Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur, a powerful symbol of his unwavering devotion and commitment to the welfare of his beloved subjects.