Preserve Syncretic Legacy, Allow Urs at Baba Budan Dargha: Progressive Leaders Urge Karnataka CM
In an open letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a coalition of activists, artists, and writers condemns the district administration’s blocking of Sufi rituals at the contested shrine in Chikkamagaluru, calling it a “betrayal” of secular values.
ಬಾಬಾ ಬುಡನ್ಗಿರಿ ವಿವಾದ: ಉರುಸ್ ನಡೆಸಲು ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡುವಂತೆ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಗತಿಪರ ಮುಖಂಡರ ಮನವಿ
Bengaluru, March 5: Amid escalating tensions over the religious identity of the historic Baba Budan Dargah in Chikkamagaluru, a collective of prominent progressive leaders and activists has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene immediately to protect the site’s syncretic heritage. In an open letter on Thursday, the signatories demanded that the district administration be directed to permit the traditional Urs celebrations, which they allege were unjustly blocked by authorities.
Described by some as the “Ayodhya of the South,” the cave shrine, officially known as the Sri Guru Dattatreya Baba Budan Swamy Dargah, has been a flashpoint for communal tension for over three decades . Revered by both Hindus and Muslims, the site is associated with the 16th-century Sufi saint Baba Budan, credited with introducing coffee to the Indian subcontinent, and is also believed by Hindu devotees to be the abode of Dattatreya .
Allegations of Administrative Bias
The letter, signed by veteran journalist Dr. Vijayamma, actor Prakash Raj, and activists from various civil society organizations, accuses the Congress government of displaying a “duplicitous and pseudo-secular” stance.
The signatories recalled a long history of struggle by progressive forces to preserve the shrine’s pluralistic character. They noted that previous Congress governments had proposed a compromise formula allowing both the Urs (a Sufi festival) and Datta Jayanti (a Hindu celebration) to occur under administrative supervision.
However, the activists now claim this arrangement has been subverted. They expressed dismay that while the district administration permitted a large-scale Datta Jayanti celebration—which they allege was dominated by Sangh Parivar affiliates and conducted with Brahminical rituals—the same administration prevented the Dargah committee from holding its scheduled Urs on March 4, 5, and 6.
“This is not a secular stance that accommodates both. It is a tactic to suppress the Sufi tradition while appeasing the Sangh Parivar,” the letter states.
‘Denied the Right to Tradition’
The leaders specifically highlighted the treatment of Syed Ghouse Mohiuddin Shahkhadri, the hereditary custodian (Sajjada Nashin) of the dargah. According to the letter, the administration barred him and other devotees from performing the core rituals of the Urs.
“Shahkhadri was told he has no right to apply sandalwood paste (gandh) or conduct the Urs according to tradition. They were stopped from even placing the green chadar (cloth) on the tomb. They have been completely sidelined,” the letter read, expressing deep anguish over the perceived denial of religious freedom .
‘Implement the Supreme Court Directive’
This public appeal comes against the backdrop of an ongoing legal battle. The Supreme Court has been actively monitoring the situation, having previously directed the Karnataka government to clarify its position on worship rights at the shrine . In July 2025, the apex court specifically questioned the state regarding Shahkhadri’s access to the shrine to offer prayers .
The progressive leaders have demanded that the state government adhere to the constitutional framework and the directives of the Supreme Court. They condemned the police action against protesters who assembled to condemn the blocking of the Urs, alleging that activists were manhandled.
“We condemn this injustice. The government must intervene immediately to protect the syncretic tradition of Baba Budangiri,” the letter demands, urging the Chief Minister to issue clear directives to the district administration to allow the Sajjada Nashin and devotees to conduct the Urs without hindrance.
The controversy underscores the fragility of India’s shared religious sites, where historical syncretism is increasingly challenged by competing communal narratives .
