In 1955, the All India Veerashaiva Maha Sabha had organised a conference. Along with two of my friends I went from Bombay to attend it. Jaya Chamaraj Woodeyar, the then Maharaja of Mysore state, also took part in it. The foundation stone of the buildings of Kayaka Nilaya and Anubhava Mantapa was laid by him. M.P. Patil, Minister of the composite Bombay state then, participated in this function. After the foundation stone had been laid, I went along with my friends to see Basavanna’s Maha Mane, Bijjala’s place and the places where the Shiva Sharanas were performing penance (Shivayoga) of the Twelveth century about which I had read in books. But I found a world of difference between what I had visualised from the glowing accounts about these places in the books  and the actual buildings I saw. At the sight of these buildings I was disappointed.

It was then that the idea flashed across my mind that why should not Basava Kalyan be formed into a taluka and why should not the name Kille Kalyan be changed and the name Basava Kalyan given to it? But how to achieve all that? The question started tormenting me.

When I became Chief Minister on 16th May 1958, I got the opportunity to translate my dream into a reality. It was at that time that the decision to make Basava Kalyan a taluka was taken, and the name Kille Kalyan was changed to Basava Kalyan.
 

Later, on 17 May 1964 a meeting was organised in Basava Sadan in Bombay, to which I was invited. Huchcheshwar Mudgal, M.P., and Palkandawar  took a prominent part in that meeting. The members assembled in the meeting pointed out that they had been observing the birth anniversary of Basava in Bombay for the last two-three years and they had invited Pujya Kumara Swamiji of Navakalayan math for that year’s celebration. I suggested at the meeting, “We have all been observing for many years the birth anniversary celebrations, why should we not establish an institution to propagate the Basava principles in our state, in our country and abroad?” I asked.

There was a detailed discussion on my suggestion, and it was decided that a small committee should be formed which should prepare a constitution. Under that constitution an institution should be founded in Bangalore. I was appointed Chairman of the Committee. According to a resolution of the meeting Jayanna Chigateri and I visited Dharwad. We met the Vice Chancellor of Karnataka University and requested him to convene a meeting. He called a meeting which was attended by prominent people of the town like lawyers, doctors, professors and others. The meeting deliberated on the name to be given to the institution propagating the Basava principles, and a committee of three persons, including Prof. Malwad, was appointed to suggest an appropriate name, which was to consist of two words. The committee suggested two-three names, and Basava Samithi was finally approved.