There is a Shivamogga-connection with the bust of social reformer Basaveshwara installed on the banks of Thames River at London and unveiled recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The bust was crafted by sculptor K. Sridharmurthy, who was born and brought-up here. Mr. Sridharmurthy is the son of renowned artist Kashinath, a recipient of the prestigious Jakanachari award. Mr. Sridharmurthy did his schooling in Shivamogga and has passed the diploma course in civil engineering from DVS Polytechnic here.
Mr. Sridharmurthy had earlier crafted the 119-ft statue of Basavanna in cement concrete at Gadag and a 111-ft statue at
Basava Kalyan. Neeraj Patil, the Lambeth-based leader, who took the initiative to have the bust installed at London, was impressed by the creations at Gadag and Basava Kalyan, and entrusted him the responsibility of designing the bust for London.
The bust, made of oxidised bronze, is 3.6 feet high and weighs 500 kg. It has been installed on a pedestal of grey granite.
The bust was designed at the art gallery of Mr. Sridharmurthy at Bengaluru and later transported to London by a ship from Chennai port.
Inscription
The brass panel on the front side of the pedestal has been inscribed with the information about Basaveshwara.
The incidents at Anubhava Mantap, where an interesting debate had been witnessed on the issues related to eradication of socio-economic disparities and empowerment of women, when Basaveshwara and other composers of vachanas were members, and the scene of inter-caste marriage initiated by Basaveshwara that had triggered the Kalyan Kranti, have been carved on the brass panels on either side of the pedestal.
Mr. Sridharmurthy said, “The liberal and pluralistic character of the people of London deserves emulation. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi, who liberated India from the clutches of British rule, has been installed at the Parliament Square there.
There was excellent support from the local people for the installation of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue and the bust of Basaveshwara,” he said.Mr. Sridharmurthy could not attend the bust-unveiling ceremony as he was preoccupied. “I am planning to visit London for the Basaveshwara Jayanti programme to be organised by the Kannada-speaking people there in April 2016,” he said.
It has been sculpted by Sridharamurthy, a native of the city
