BLDEA - A LEGACY SPANNING MORE THAN A CENTURY
BLDEA (Bharatiya Lingayat Development Educational Association, Formerly Vijayapura Lingayat District Educational Association) is a leading education organization in the North Karnataka region. It has a legacy of more than 100 years and 75 education institutions under its banner, which comprise professional institutes, colleges of humanities and social sciences, public schools and research institutes.
BLDE's goal is to use education as a tool to bring about social and economic transformation in the North Karnataka region, empower women and the oppressed, reduce social inequality in educational opportunity and contribute to national development.
BLDEA has laid considerable emphasis on imparting quality education, cutting across professional and general institutions and create new standards in research and allied activities. All its institutions have a reputation for their unwavering commitment to excellence and expanding the horizons of knowledge.
Inception
BLDEA was established on October 23, 1910, by Vachana Pitamaha Dr. P. G. Halakatti, a towering literary figure and a social reformer who dedicated his life for spreading the ideals of Shiva Sharanas.
In 1914, BLDEA took over the New English School, a school run by Basel Mission, Germany. About 83 students were studying in the school then. BLDEA later renamed it as Siddeshwara Secondary Education School and thus began journey in the field of education.
As the number of students grew, Dr. P. G. Halakatti felt it necessary that the school have a new building. Knowing the perseverance of Dr. P. G. Halakatti and recognizing the need for the school's development, the State Government granted six acres of land to the Association. Very soon, BLDEA laid the foundation for its own school building.
Period of Growth
In 1942, Shri Shri Sanganabasaveshwar Maha Shivayogigalu of Banthanal took charge of BLDEA and over the next 20 years, he expanded the operations of BLDEA by establishing various educational institutes. He found many primary and higher secondary schools and colleges for higher education.
Foraying into professional education
In the 1960s, Dr. B.M. Patil, a statesman and a great visionary, foresaw the potential for professional education and the need for offering such education to benefit and empower the people of the North Karnataka region. With this vision, he established several professional institutions. Under his leadership, BLDEA established an Engineering College, Pharmacy College, Nursing College and Medical College and a 1,000-bed teaching hospital.
Pursuing higher goals
In the early 1990s, Dr. M. B. Patil, son of Dr. B. M. Patil, became the General Secretary of BLDEA. Being young and dynamic, he focused on providing education which was in tune with modern times. Excellence became the buzz word and many new courses were added. He envisioned the need for a university and strived for its establishment. As a result, BLDE University came into existence on February 29, 2008.
BLDEA - On a mission to uplift backward areas
BLDEA runs over 75 institutions located in Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts, which are recognized as socially, economically and educationally backward areas by the then British Government and currently by the UGC, State Government and Central Government.
The institutions run by BLDEA include primary and secondary schools, public schools, high schools, PU Colleges, Autonomous Arts, Science & Commerce Degree Colleges, and professional institutions such as colleges of education, Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Law College, Engineering College, Medical College, Business Schools, Pharmacy College, Nursing College and BLDE University. All BLDEA institutions offer education to students without making any discrimination based on sect, caste, religion and creed.
Founders & Legacy
Poojya Sri Sanganabasava Shivayogi Banthanala
Sri Sanganabasava Shivayogi Banthanala Swamiji (1912 to 1972) was anointed as a Pontiff in 1916 when he was just 17 years old. During his lifetime, he made a significant contribution to the field of education and strove to create religious and spiritual awareness in people.
His used mythological discourses extensively to lead people on the religious and spiritual path, which made him a living god. His discourses on Prabhulingaleele, Basavapurana, Siddarama Charithre, Shoonya Sampadane, Akkamahadevi Charithamrutha, Nijagunara Anubhava, etc. took him closer to the people.
He established a ‘Garadi Mane (Gymnasium)’ for gym practice, a library for readers, a primary school for children, and a Marriage hall for holding auspicious programmes, even before independence.
In 1926, heeding the request of Dr. P. G. Halakatti, the founder of BLDEA, Poojya Sri Sanganabasava Shivayogi Banthanala Swamiji began efforts to strengthen BLDEA.
In 1945, acting at the request of Poojya Sri Sanganabasava Shivayogi Banthanala Swamiji, Mathrushree Bangaramma Sajjana donated 54 acres of land to Sri Banthanala Swamiji and earned the name as ‘Danachinthamani’. In the same year, ‘Vijaya College’ was started in Vijayapura
In 1951, Poojya Sri Sanganabasava Shivayogi Banthanala Swamiji organized a conference of all religions in Lachyana. He invited eminent personalities from Islam, Buddhism, Christian and Jain religions to the summit and paved the way for religious harmony. Pooojya Swamiji established hundreds of high schools, free hostels and colleges in Vijayapura.
A bronze statue of Sri Sanganabasava Shivayogiji has been installed in front of Shri B M. Patil Medical College.
Vachana Pitamaha Dr. P. G. Halakatti
Dr. Phakeerappa G Halakatti was born on July 2, 1880, to Gurubasappa and Danamma. He completed his primary and middle school education in Dharwad and in 1902, obtained a BA degree from St. Xavier College, Mumbai.
Sri P. G. Halakatti, who had the desire to serve society, did not accept any employment opportunities after his graduation. Instead, he continued his studies and completed an LLB degree in first class in 1904
In the same year, he moved to Vijayapura to pursue the career of a lawyer. At the house of Sri Shivalingappa Manchale, he had the opportunity to see the palm leaf manuscripts of 'Shatsthala Thilaka' and 'Prabhudeva Vachana', was deeply influenced by them and decided to collect, edit and publish the Vachana literature to reach them to the people
He started 'Hithachinthaka' printing press to publish the collected manuscripts and started 'Shivanubhava' newspaper and 'Shivanubhava Granthamale'. He made people realize that Vachanas of Basava and others are precious.
Dr. P. G. Halakatti started a weekly called 'Navakarnataka' in 1927. This weekly published political, social, educational and employment news. When he needed a printing machine and didn't have the money to buy one, he sold his house which had been built from his hard-earned money.
Dr. P.G. Halakati stared BLDEA in 1910. The small seed he sowed then has today become a massive education movement in the North Karnataka region.
Dr. P. G. Halakatti was chosen as the president of Kannada Sahithya Sammelana (Kannada literature conference) held in 1926 in Ballary. Karnataka University recognized Sri Halakatti's service to literature and conferred on him 'Doctor of Letters' degree in November 1956.
Dr. P. G. Halkatti, who strove for the development of literature and society for over five decades, published more than 115 priceless books during his lifetime.
Dr. B. M. Patil
Dr. B. M. Patil was born to Mallangowda Patil and Lakshmibhai on November 1, 1931, in Tikota. After receiving primary education, he joined Sri Siddeshwara High School in 1944 for high school education.
Dr. B. M. Patil obtained a graduate degree in B.Sc. from Lingaraja College, Belagavi, before moving to Vijayapura . He was elected as the General Secretary of the college union while studying at Lingaraja College, which heralded the beginning of his political life.
He married Kamala Bhai, daughter of A. T. Patil, one of his maternal uncles, on February 10, 1957, and was appointed as the Director of Vijayapura District DCC Bank when he was 25 years old. He served as the president of Vijayapura Khadi Gramodyoga Association from 1971 to 1979. He gave land to an Ayurveda College started by the government in 1955-56.
In 1967, Dr. B. M. Patil was elected as an MLA from Vijayapura city constituency and became a Municipal Administration Minister in the Cabinet of Sri Veerendra Patil on December 20, 1968.
His efforts to secure land for a government hospital in Vijayapura bore fruit when the government allotted 162 acres. The hospital was inaugurated on January 22, 1976. His tireless work to bring water from the Krishna River to the drought-prone region of Vijayapura is also noteworthy.
He established an engineering college on October 23, 1980, and a Medical College in 1986. Within a year, he also found a 700 bedded teaching hospital.
Dr. B. M. Patil left for his heavenly abode on July 27, 1990, when he was 59 years. Rani Chennamma University, Belagavi, conferred on him a doctorate posthumously on its first convocation day in 2013.
Dr. M. B. Patil
Dr. M. B. Patil, a distinguished leader and educationist, is the President of BLDEA and BLDE Deemed to be University. Born on October 7, 1964, he holds a B.E. Degree from Vachana Pitamaha Dr. P. G. Halakatti College of Engineering. With a remarkable tenure as the General Secretary of BLDEA from 1990 to 2005 and subsequent presidency since 2005, Dr. M. B. Patil has laid a strong foundation for BLDEA, an institution with a rich history of over 100 years.
Driven by his passion for providing quality education in rural and backward areas, Dr. M. B. Patil has been instrumental in establishing BLDE Deemed to be University, uplifting the educational landscape of Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts. His unwavering commitment has enabled countless students to access quality education, empowering them for a brighter future.
In addition to his illustrious role in academia, Dr. M. B. Patil has also made significant contributions to public service. He was elected as an MLA first in 1991 and has won as an MLA six times till date. He has also served as an MP for one term. He currently serves as the Minister for Commerce & Industries and Infrastructure in the Government of Karnataka. Previously, he held the portfolios of Home, Water Resources and Vijayapura District In-charge Minister in the state government. With his visionary leadership, he has played a pivotal role in spearheading critical projects, enhancing water resource management, and accelerating infrastructure development in the state.
As the Minister for Water Resources, he fast-tracked the implementation of all major projects, gave a significant thrust to micro-irrigation and focused on water use efficiency. He was instrumental in the completion of Ramthal Irrigation Project, Asia's largest community based automated drip irrigation project in record time. During his term as the Minister of Water Resources, Karnataka excelled and won awards in Dam Safety and Rehabilitation Project (DRIP) works. He was instrumental in removing the obstacles for the implementation of the Upper Bhadra Project. The Tubachi-Babaleshwar project, considered by many as a challenging project, was started and completed during his term. He laid particular emphasis on tank filling projects and as a result, nearly 300+ tanks been revived and filled with water from the Krishna River in Vijayapura district. He has successfully led the mass tree plantation project 'Koti Vruksha Abhiyan' in Vijayapura, which involves planting one crore trees in Vijayapura in 5 years. His efforts have made a massive difference to the drought-prone Vijayapura with many parts of the district shining in greenery today.
Dr. M. B. Patil's passion for literature and research is evident through his valuable contributions to establishing research centers and preserving historical literary works. The initiatives and steps taken by him for the establishment of Dr. P. G. Halakatti Research Centre and translation and publication of Adil Shahi literature and Sharana literature collected by Dr. P. G. Halakatti have earned appreciation for him from all quarters.
With his profound interest in Buddha and Basava philosophy, Dr. M. B. Patil embodies a holistic approach to leadership and governance. His multifaceted contributions have transformed lives, uplifted communities, and created a lasting impact on the fields of education, infrastructure, and literature.
Dr. M. B. Patil's tireless dedication, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to public service continue to inspire and shape a better future for Karnataka and its people.
He has a keen interest in Buddha and Basava philosophy.
