Glowing tributes paid to Poojya Doddappa Appaji on the occasion of his Punyathithi

KALABURAGI:  Glowing tributes were paid to 7th Peethadhipati of the Sharnabasaveshwar Samasthan Poojya Doddappa Appaji, who sowed the first seeds for converting Kalyana Karnataka region into a major education hub, on the occasion of his 38th Death Anniversary in Kalaburagi City.

Secretary of the Sharanabasaveshwar Vidya Vardak Sangha Mr Basavaraj Deshmukh,  who is also one of the grand-son of Poojya Doddappa Appaji,  in his Chief Guest address at a function organized by the Sharnbasva University and hosted by the Kannada and Music departments jointly, said that but for the vision of Poojya Doddappa Appaji, the Sharnabasaveshwar Vidya Vardak Sangha would not have blossomed into a major educational institution in which more than 30,000 students were pursuing different courses now.

“When Poojya Doddappa Appaji decided to start the first Kannada primary school way back in 1934 there were less than 10 students including my mother, who was the daughter of Poojya Doddappa Appaji in the school, and this initiative not only gave fillip to the educational empowerment of the women in the region, but also set the tone for the establishment of series of educational institutions in the entire Kalyana Karnataka region”.

Mr Deshmukh said that the people of Kalayana Karnataka region adored Poojya Doddappa Appaji for his deeds of giving new direction to the activities of Sharanabasaveshwar Samasthan of continuing the culture of Dasoha of providing free food to the people in needy and starting the “Jnana Dasoha” of providing quality education to the people needy. “People used to fondly call him as the second Sharanabasaveshwar of Kalaburagi”.

Mr Deshmukh said that he had the fortune of serving Poojya Doddappa Appaji and said that Poojya Doddappa Appaji was a family man and he used to shower his love and affection on his children and grand children. “Poojya Doddappa Appaji had a special place for the present Peethadhipati Poojya Dr Sharanabaswappa Appaji  in his heart”.

Registrar of the Sharnbasva University Dr Anilkumar Bidve in his presidential remarks said that Poojya Doddappa Appaji laid the foundation stone for the Sharnbasva University when he decided to send present Peetathipathi Dr Sharnabasaveshwar Samasthan Poojya Dr Sharnbaswappa Appaji  to Karnataka University to pursuing his Post Graduation in Philosophy at the instance of the then Vice Chancellor of the Karnataka University Dr D C Pavate.

Initially Poojya Doddappa Appaji was reluctant to send his son to Dharwad to pursue his Post Graduation, but Dr Pavate during one of his visit to the Samasthan persuaded Poojya Doddappa Appaji to send his war d to Dharwad since that would help him to develop educational institutions started by Poojya Doddappa Appaji. “The first seed for the establishment of Sharnbasva University was sown by Poojya Doddappa Appaji”.

Dean of the faculty of Languages Prof S G Dollegoudar spoke on the occasion.  Third Semester Students of Kannada Department Bhagyashri and Suhasini were felicitated on the occasion for winning first and third prizes respectively in the elocution contest held by the Sharanabasaveshwar Arts College on the life and contribution of Poojya Doddappa Appaji.  Chairperson of the Kannada Department Dr.Sarikadevi Kalagi welcomed and Dr Chidanand Chikmath anchored and Dr.Sumangala Reddy proposed vote of thanks.