GULBARGA: Many authors have researched the Devadasi system and have written books on types of the practice and focused on the problems being faced by them.
Professor and former head of Institute of Kannada Studies Chennanna Walikar, who conducted a study from 1989-99 on the practice has written a book titled The Complete Studies of Karnataka Devadasis Socio Religious Economical Educational Cultural and Political Problems, which was published in 2001.
Chennanna says that he has visited the squalid houses of the Devadasis in different parts of Karnataka and learnt about their problems. This evil practice has been in force since the Vedic period and most of the Devadasis belonged to the Dalit community, his book quotes. “They were forced by the society and their parents to accept this inhuman tradition,” says Walikar in his book.
Many Devadasis/former Devadasis were suffering from sexual diseases.
He says though the government claims that the Devadasi system has been eradicated, the practice of giving Diksha of Devadasis is being carried out in a clandestine manner even today.
Dr Jogan Shankar who was the chairman of Post Graduate Department of Sociology in University of Mysore had published a book titled Devadasi Sampradaaya (Devadasi Custom) in 1993, in which he narrates how this system came in to practice; what were the forces behind it and why parents of the girls were forcing their daughters to acquisce to it.
Jogan Shankar also narrates on the Acts being promulgated by different state governments to ban this evil practice and the measures taken by them to rehabilitate former Devadasis. He has also detailed the efforts of some of the NGOs which were striving hard to bring Devadasis to the mainstream by spreading awareness.
Journalist Shivaram Asundi in his Thesis titled ‘A Study on the Novel- Devadasi’ written by Du Nim Belagali gives an in-depth explanation about the Devadasi system, concept of Devadasi in Kannada novels, face to face between the literates, educated and Devadasis.
The author has narrated the works of some of the organisations which have brought about some changes in the practice and made them fight the ill-effects of the system.
Nadoja Award Recipient of Kannada University Geeta Nagabhushana who was also the president of the 76th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held at Gadag, has written a book titled Mapurtai Makkalu a few years back.
In the book she narrateds about the practice of giving Diksha of Devadasi in Mapur Tai Temple of Chinchansoor and living conditions of the Devadasis.