About Basavanna 

• Basavanna was a 12th-century philosopher, statesman, and Kannada poet during the period of the Shiva-focused Bhakti movement. 
• Considered to be one of the many great social reformers, Basavanna stood for the underprivileged classes and women’s rights.
• He spread social awareness through his poetry called Vachanaas. 
• The renowned reformer rejected all kinds of gender and social discrimination, superstitions, and rituals. 
• Basavanna was known for championing equality and also introduced the Anubhava Mantapa concept to people. It means a hall of spiritual experience in which women and men from all backgrounds of socio-economic conditions were permitted to take part in discussions related to spirituality and questions of life with no restraints.

Why in News?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Jagadguru Basaveshwara on the sacred occasion of Basava Jayanthi.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1918885