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Continuing the reformist spirit of Basawanna, Shiv Kumara Swamy became the head of the Lingayat community. He believed in the importance of education as the catalyst for social change.
Born on 1st April 1907
In 1907, on April 1, in Veerapur village in the Kingdom of Mysore, a pontiff was born. He was the youngest child in the family. Little did anyone know the feats this young boy would perform and live up to. Named Shivanna, as his family was deeply religious, he grew up attending regular school and college, but would soon become a dropout to join the Siddaganga Matha as its head.
He was renamed Shivakumara and was initiated into the order formally in 1930. Shivanna was not born to be a Swami - circumstances and his devotion made way for him.
Religion was not the only sphere that Swamiji was interested in. Soon after taking the administrative position, he began his work and established more than a hundred institutions that educate and train people, not in religion as one would expect, but in all disciplines of arts and sciences.
Moreover, he opened his gurukul for all children. At any point in time, more than ten thousand children of all castes and creeds would stay with him and be provided with free lodging and education. He opened a big heart for anyone and everyone, serving people as much as he could in all possible ways.
He stood the test of the true follower of Basavanna, the founder of Lingayata, as he chose the path of 'trivida dasoha' - free food, shelter and education.
His humanitarian efforts brought him a lot of attention from various political leaders. Though throughout his life, Swamiji maintained a distance from political life, his Matha had the strong support of the Lingayat community.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2015 in recognition of his philanthropic work.
After several months of sickness, Shivakumara Swami succumbed to death after completing a supercentenarian - a life well-lived. At one point, he was one of the oldest people living in the country. His death was seen as a major loss by many.
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