Bilimale-headed committee recommends re-incorporation of ‘Bauddha’ word in Karnataka’s Naada Geete
A committee headed by Purushothama Bilimale, chairman of the Kannada Development Authority (KDA), has recommended that the State government re-incorporate the reference to Buddhism by
A committee headed by Purushothama Bilimale, chairman of the Kannada Development Authority (KDA), has recommended that the State government re-incorporate the reference to Buddhism by adding the word ‘Bauddha’ in the Naada Geete (State anthem) — Jai Bharata Jananiya Tajujate — composed by poet Kuvempu. Buddhist religious leaders, along with various organisations, had urged the State government to re-incorporate the word in the Naada Geete. The government had then constituted a committee to study this and submit a report. The committee has now taken a unanimous decision to include the word “Bauddha” and has submitted a report to the Department of Kannada and Culture to change the lines “Parasika Jainarudhyana” in the Nada Geete to “Parasika Jaina Baudharudhyana.” Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Bilimale said, “Buddhism is also an important religion of the State.
Kuvempu clearly had no disdain for Buddhists. The word ‘Bauddharudhyana’ was mentioned in the draft of the poem written by Kuvempu in 1924. When it was published in the collection Kolalu in 1930, the word was dropped.” He noted that while Buddhist monuments and historical traces of the Ashokan era were found in Sannati in Kalaburagi district, indicating that Buddhism was widespread in the State earlier, the influence of Ambedkar had led to a large number of people taking to Buddhism in recent times.
He said that while the recommendation to include the word was unanimous, the final decision was up to the government. H.C. Mahadevappa, former Minister for Social Welfare, had written to the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in November 2025, stating that the original draft of the Naada Geete contained the word “Bauddha.” Earlier, the word “Madhwa” was added to the Naada Geete, at the behest of the late Vishweshatheertha Swami of Udupi Pejawar Mutt and other leaders of the Madhwa sect of the Brahmin community.
Some people, including Kuvempu’s son and the late writer Poornachandra Tejaswi, had then opposed it, saying it was against the wishes of Kuvempu.
The BriefWire