Chief Minister Siddaramaiah delivered a powerful message on the transformative power of education while addressing a major gathering of the potter community in Mysuru on Monday. He firmly stated that a life of dignity and self-respect is unattainable without education, which he described as the fundamental driver for meaningful societal change.
Honouring the Legacy of the Kumbara Community
The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the State Kumbara Mega Convention, organized by the Mysuru District Kumbara Association at Kalamandir. He acknowledged the Kumbara, or potter, community as one of the most marginalised groups with a relatively small population. Siddaramaiah lauded them as 'Kayaka Yogis'—a term signifying those for whom work is a form of worship—and praised their exceptional skill in creating artistic works from clay.
He also highlighted the community's rich intellectual heritage, recalling that the revered 17th-18th century poet Sarvagna, who enlightened society through his vachanas (proverbs), hailed from the Kumbara community. Delving into history, the CM noted that while the 12th-century social reformer Basavanna introduced the principles of Kayaka (work) and Dasoha (sharing), the ancient Chaturvarna system had denied education and cultural access to vast sections, particularly the Shudras, who constituted nearly 80% of the population.
Education: The Great Liberator
Siddaramaiah emphasized that national leader Dr. B.R. Ambedkar recognized education's pivotal role and enshrined equal opportunities in the Constitution. This framework, he said, enabled millions to access education after Independence. "Without education, we cannot truly become human beings or live with dignity," the CM asserted. He added that political freedom only holds real meaning when it is coupled with social and economic freedom.
Rejecting the idea that education is the preserve of any single class, Siddaramaiah directly urged the youth from the Kumbara community to aim high and aspire to become doctors, engineers, and professors.
Government Assurance for Community Development
Assuring concrete government support, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that steps would be taken to address the key demands of the Kumbara community. This includes working towards providing grants for BDA sites and ensuring adequate funding for the Kumbara Development Corporation to further their welfare and economic progress.
The event was attended by Ministers H.C. Mahadevappa and K. Venkatesh, underscoring the government's attention to the community's concerns. The CM's speech reinforced education as the cornerstone for empowerment and dignity, linking historical struggles with contemporary aspirations for the marginalised sections of society.
