Moodbidri: Alva’s College, Moodbidri, lecturer Sulatha Vidyadhar, delivered a speech during the Shivasharane Hemareddy Mallamma Jayanti programme organised by the district administration and the Department of Kannada and Culture at the Government Teachers’ Education Institute in Mangaluru. She pointed out that there is a urgent necessity to ponder on the life and message of great personalities of yesteryear as there are no living models propagating good values these days. Hence a need of Jayanti of such people.

Hemareddy Mallamma was born to Nagareddy and Gowramma at Shrishaila near Ramapura. There is, however, ambiguity regarding her year of birth. There are two versions, depicting her years of birth as 1327 and 1424. Living the ideology is greater than preaching the ideology. Mallamma’s life itself is a message. Although her works are not available, her ideals dwell in the minds of her admirers. She was an ardent devotee and is known for her miracles. There are folk songs on Mallamma and Saint Shishunala Sharif’s works also carry mentions about her.

Mayor Kavitha Sanil said that Hemareddy Mallamma’s Jayanti is being celebrated by the government for the first time. There were few people like her in the male dominated society during her times, who pioneered social change.

Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation chairman B H Khader inaugurated the programme. District Kannada and Culture Department assistant director D M Ravikumar was present.