Mysuru: Dasara belongs to everyone, says CM
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday strongly defended the state’s decision to invite International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate this year’s Mysuru Dasara, describing the celebration as a “secular” and “cultural” festival for all communities.
“Dasara is a cultural festival, it is Nada Habba (state festival). There is nothing that it should be inaugurated only by people belonging to a certain religion. Nada Habba means a festival for everyone – Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains. This is the festival for everyone,” the CM told reporters.
Opposition and historical context
The CM pointed out that the high-power Dasara committee had authorised him to take the decision. “Earlier too, poet K S Nissar Ahmed, from the Muslim community, was invited to inaugurate Dasara,” he noted.
Calling those opposing the move “bigots who don’t know history,” Siddaramaiah cited examples of Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, and Diwan Mirza Ismail, under whom the festival was celebrated. “It is a secular festival, so I decided the International Booker Prize winner should be invited. Some bigots are speaking against it; they need to learn history,” he said.
He alleged that the BJP was politicising the issue.
BJP objections and viral video controversy
The row erupted after an old video of Mushtaq went viral, where she reportedly questioned the practice of worshipping Kannada as Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, saying it could exclude minorities.
BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar demanded that Mushtaq clarify her reverence for Goddess Chamundeshwari before inaugurating the festivities.
Mushtaq, however, clarified that her remarks had been distorted and selectively circulated.
CM’s defence of Mushtaq
Siddaramaiah dismissed the criticism, asking:
“What does that have to do with inviting her to inaugurate Dasara? Will she write in Kannada without respecting Kannada Tayi? Her work Hrudaya Hanate is in which language? Is it possible to write in Kannada without love for the language? All her literary works are in Kannada.”
On why Mushtaq’s co-translator Deepa Bhasthi, who shared the International Booker Prize with her, was not invited, the CM responded:
“Two people cannot inaugurate. Let’s look at it later, about honouring her in front of Mysuru Palace. The government has already honoured both of them with ₹10 lakh each.”
Conclusion
With the debate intensifying, the CM reiterated that Dasara is a festival of inclusivity, and inviting Banu Mushtaq was both appropriate and symbolic of Karnataka’s cultural and secular ethos.