Vardhaman Book on Jainism

Author(s): Jayshree Menon
Publisher: Bennete Coleman & Co Ltd

Page 74

One Man's Mission
- ముందుమాట ಶ್ರೀ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಧರ್ಮಸ್ಥಳ ಗ್ರಾಮಾಭಿವೃದ್ದಿ ಯೋ!
Pragathi Bandhu is based on the To begin with, 80 villages concept of self-help and pooling of
eshwara Cultural and Re
resources among farmers. in Belthangady district were
search Foundation conJnana Jyothi is a programme in adopted. Today the smiling collaboration with the National
ducts research on literafaces of 12,000 families
Literacy Mission.
ture, religion, arts and speak volume about the
Jnana Vikasa enlightens rural
crafts and has been responsuccess of this unique exwomen and propagates concepts like
sible for preserving over periment in social family planning, small savings, child
5,000 priceless manu. upliftment.
health.
scripts and antiques. The Constant interaction, Rudseti (Rural Development and
ancient scripts are being regular follow-up and effecSelf Employment Training Institute)
deciphered by scholars and tive co-ordination have been trains village youth in agricultural and
translated into modern lanthe hallmark of this project. allied activities, sets up micro
guage so that gems of anThis success had led enterprises or small business.
cient literature may once Heggade to widen the hori- Rudseti aims to halt the migration again find their true place zon and reach of this process from villages to cities in
in Indian literature. project. search of employment. The institute
The Manjusha museum Mass marriage is another has so far trained over 42,000
at Dharmasthala is a treaindividuals and the success rate has important concept intro
sure house that displays a
been over 65 per cent. duced by Heggade in 1972,
priceless collection of to eradicate social evils like
sculptures, paintings, icons dowry, casteism, untouch
and other works of art. This ability and financial debt. Mass marriages are just is but one example of Heggade's unceasing efone facet of Heggade's efforts to bring people forts to preserve culture. Over the years, Heggade together and decrease the burden of marriage has also put together a collection of horse drawn expenses. Today the event has become an an- carriages and vintage cars that could well docu
ment the history of automotive transportation. These vintage beau
ties have been restored to pristine “ಪಗತಿಬಂಧು ತಂಡಗಳಿಗೆ
condition with tender care and beಕೃಷಿ ಉಪಕರಣಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯರ ವಿತರಣಾ lieve it or not, every one of them is
totally road worthy!
The neglect of some of the country's shrines and temples rang a discordant note in Heggade's heart and he set about establishing the Dharmasthala Dharmothana Trust for restoration of such temples. Set up in 1990, the trust, under the guidance of Heggade, identifies and takes up the renovation of temples and shrines of archeologically important temples,
which are not protected by the ASI, nual feature with around 500 couples being With the expertise of the Archeological Departjoined in wedlock on each occasion. The ex- ment, the restoration process is carried out on penses for the wedding clothes, mangalsutra scientific lines. As an incentive to proper mainand wedding feast for a limited number of each tenance, local inhabitants are encouraged to get couple's guests are borne by the kshetra.
involved in bringing back the lost glory of the The presence of Bahubali in Dharmasthala temple. The trust has spent more than a crore is evidence of religious tolerance and spirit of towards this objective in the last decade. oneness.
According to Heggade, the trust's next action Veerendra Heggade was instrumental in accom- would be to renovate temples in the districts of plishing the task of installing Bahubali on De- Haveri and Dharwad. cember 25, 1975, the work of which was started Truly, Heggade is a true representative of God. in 1967, nder the aegis of his father Ratnavarma Numerous awards have been bestowed upon him. Heggade. The mahaprastishtana was conducted These include the title of Rajashri by former presion February 3, 1982 and the mahamastak- dent Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, an honorary docabhishekha the next day.
torate by the Mangalore University and the Heggade has made a great contribution to pre- Padmabhushan by the President of India on serve culture and heritage. The Sri Manjunath- March 30, 2000.
VARSHANBARN 74 national