Ahead of socio-educational survey, confusion among Veerashaiva-Lingayats resurfaces with conflicting directions

Ahead of the socio-educational survey beginning on September 22, members of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community are again caught in a fix over the nomenclature of their community. There is confusion with contradictory appeals by representatives of caste organisations and seers on how to name their community and caste.

Decades-old dilemma

In fact, in the last few decades the community faces such a dilemma every time a census is undertaken and after the mega movement for the independent religion status for Lingayatism in 2017, the issue seems to have become even more complex.

The State government’s recommendation on granting religious minority status to ‘Lingayat and Veerashaiva Lingayat (who believe in Basava Tatva) became the talking point of the 2018 Assembly elections with the BJP accusing the Congress of trying to divide the community. This narrative has continued even today.

Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha (JLM), an offshoot of the Lingayat movement, projects ‘Lingayat’ as an independent religion. The representative body of Veerashaiva Lingayats, the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha, which added Lingayat to its name post the Lingayat movement, is in agreement with JLM on this issue, but differs over the nomenclature.

National general secretary of the mahasabha and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre recently requested the community members to mention their religion in the ‘Others’ column and identify themselves as ‘Veerashaiva’ or ‘Lingayat’ or ‘Veerashaiva Lingayat’ under the caste column subsequently, mentioning their sub-caste. However JLM wants only Lingayat to be mentioned after ‘Others’.

Meanwhile in the Basava Samskruti Abhiyana, a Statewide campaign to mark the first anniversary of declaration of 12th century social reformer Basavanna as “cultural icon”, various seers are requesting community members to identify themselves as ‘Lingayats’, a development which has not gone down well with various Veerashaiva Lingayat seers now being led by Dingaleshwar Swami of Fakkireshwar Mutt of Shirahatti.

The ‘Panchacharyas’ of the Veerashaiva community have now sided with Dingaleshwar Swami who is planning Veerashaiva Lingayat Ekata Samavesh in Hubballi on September 19.

Loss of reservation?

Meanwhile, there is another confusion as some are claiming that not mentioning ‘Hindu’ in the religion column would lead to loss of reservation benefits. However, rubbishing the claim, JLM has appealed to the community to not to be misled by such rumours. But the confusion still remains, as right wing groups are covertly spreading the rumour, claim some sources.

The recent announcement by the Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha on the name of the community after recent consultation with leaders of all political parties is being seen as a balancing act and aimed at clearing confusion.  But the confusion persists as Veerashaiva-Lingayat seers and Lingayat seers continue to differ over the issue