Sunday story: Poetic injustice! Birthplace pangs for Sarvajna

Poets have become immortal because of their verses or vachanas, and are remembered for espousing the social causes of their time. But after his time has passed and after generations have made his works eternal, would anyone have imagined that the life of a great poet like Sarvajna, would become mired in a petty controversy? That where he was born mattered much more than the thoughts of love and harmony and the magical Thripadis or three- iner poems, which endeared him to every Kannadiga? VITTAL SHASTRI traces the genesis of a controversy which could tarnish the fair name of a great poet, if not resolved 
amicably. 

Poet Sarvagna had hit the limelight a few years ago after neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka engaged in statue diplomacy to install the statue of Sarvajna in Tamil Nadu and Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar in Karnataka. It finally happened in 2009 as a symbolic gesture to bolster ties between the two states-torn apart by controversies over the sharing of Cauvery water and Hogenakkal water supply. And who could better symbolise the spirit of amity than Sarvajna, who many poetry lovers aver, resembles Telugu poet Vamana, who strove hard to reform the society of his time.

The statues have been installed in Bengaluru and Chennai and stand as shining examples of harmony, so much needed when two states are involved in a tussle over something as basic as water. But after Sarvajna was catapulted to centrestage, an ugly spat has broken out between the people of two villages in Haveri district over his birthplace. The differences came to the fore after the government decided to set up the Sarvajna development authority and set aside Rs 5 crore for the purpose.

In one of the villages, Masur, where Sarvajna is a living legend, fifty-two year old Munnirsab Balikai has named his electrical shop after the 16th century Kannada poet. He is a staunch follower of the poet and has written his vachanas all over his vehicles as he believes his blessings will help him fulfill his desires and cures ailments. The new found love for the poet has made his fans make sure the walls of the bus stand, schools and other public places have the inspiring vachanas all over them. Their admiration for the saint-poet also stems from the references he has made in his Thripadis or three-liner poems for which he is known.

Masur’s doughty residents are now gearing up to fight a legal battle with people of another little hamlet- Abaluru, situated 20 km away in Haveri district- who insist that their village is his real birthplace. Maybe, not sensing that a controversy was building up, the government had taken a torch flame from Abaluru for the unveiling of Sarvajna’s statue in Chennai by declaring it his birthplace. The shooting of Dr Rajkumar’s Kannada movie ‘Sarvajna Murthy’ was also conducted in the same village way back in 1965. Prominent seers like Shrishail Swamiji had held religious rituals like Dasara Darbar here in the 20th century believing it was the birthplace of the Kannada poet. But soon after the government moved to constitute a separate authority and provide funds for the development of Abaluru, Masur villagers have begun to sift through research work to gather evidence and prove that the poet is theirs. They have a strong point in their favour  - his place of birth, Ambaluru, as mentioned by the poet himself in h
is vachanas, is a small spot in the vicinity of the potters’ colony in Masur. That has given them all the more strength to oppose the belief that he was born in Ambaluru.  “The poet had referred to the word Ambaluru, not Abaluru while declaring his birthplace. There is also ample proof of the existence of the potters colony with the Kumadvati river flowing adjacent to it, as depicted by the poet in his vachanas. Therefore, we strongly believe our village is the real birthplace”, said 82-year old retired Kannada teacher Hallappa Talawar.

Stories abound about the birth of Sarvajna though his birthplace is shrouded in mystery. It is believed that an orthodox Brahmin, Basavarasa set out on a pilgrimage to Varanasi to worship Lord Vishwanath as he did not have children. He stayed at a place called Ambaluru while returning after obtaining the blessing of the Lord. Unable to cross the overflowing river, he bought a pot and groceries after visiting a potters’ colony. He then took shelter at the house of a widow potter, Mali, and Sarvajna was born from this relationship. Having lost both his parents early, the poet suffered a lot and historians believe he became the champion of the poor because of this. His poems extol the virtues of a social order where distinctions of race, caste and religion do not exist.

True meaning of Ambaluru
Masur villagers argue that the true meaning of Ambaluru in Kannada is a gruel centre set up to provide food and shelter to flood victims. They claim these centres were converted into a gram panchayat office and veterinary hospital in the village over the years. The villagers have even preserved relics believed to be a sculpture of his father Basavarasa, found in the river bed, a beautiful garden and ancient wells. Elders recollect that the fourth birth centenary of Sarvajna was held here in 1975 in the presence of the first woman Assembly Speaker in Karnataka, K.S. Nagaratnamma. Masur villagers have even preserved a tomb, which they claim, is that of Sarvajna and renovated it without assistance from the archeology department! 

Abaluru’s say on birthplace 
Not to be left behind, Abaluru villagers have preserved around two thousand square feet of an open site as the birth place of the poet. The land has been acquired by the district administration for a museum. And they have about twenty stone inscriptions to prove that Abaluru was a stronghold of the Jains in the 12th century. The people here contend that the name of their village might have changed to Abaluru from its original name Ambaluru, referred to by the poet in the vachanas. There are potter communities in surrounding villages who could be descendants of Sarvajna's mother, a potter woman, they contend.

“People of Masur claim that Sarvajna’s father built Kashi Vishwanath temple in their village after he was blessed with a child. But, the temples in Chalukya architecture style were not built anywhere in the state after the 12th century. The so called tomb of Sarvajna, preserved by them, surfaced just a few years ago. We are ready to counter their claim and prove that the poet was indeed born in Abaluru”, government school headmaster Malatesh Nadiger says.

 Historians and researchers have a theory which could satisfy both villages-they believe that Sarvajna's father hailed from Masur and the poet was born in Abaluru. They feel that the controversy has intensified after the government decided to form Sarvajna development authority and earmarked Rs 5 crore to turn both villages into a tourist destination.

“Masur’s villagers have no solid proof to support their claim. Several scholars have conducted thorough research and concluded that Abaluru is the birthplace”, says 77-year old retired Kannada lecturer Bhojaraj Patil.

Unmindful of the row, the administration is planning to acquire land in both villages to construct a garden, museum and develop the tomb. But, Masur’s villagers want a fact finding committee comprising professors of five different universities to be set up to put an end to the confusion. They also want the government to set up the office of Sarvajna authority in Masur and observed a bandh to back their demand.

 Maybe, it’s time for both villages to push aside this petty row and focus instead on the faith of a genius who believed that caste and creed are only words. Maybe, it’s time to read deeper into his words, ‘A warm house, money enough for expenses, an understanding wife, if you have these, set fire to heaven.’ And maybe, it’s best to give Sarvajna a respite from a spat he would have definitely disapproved of.