Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Aug 28: "Brahmashri Narayana Guru had brought about social reforms and become a beacon of light for the entire south India. He was a visionary whose messages have been showing guidance to successive generations and are relevant all the time," said MLA, Vedavyasa Kamath.
He was speaking after presiding over the 164th birth anniversary of Brahmashri Narayana Guru celebrated on Monday August 27 under the joint aegis of Dakshina Kannada district administration, zilla panchayat and Kannada and culture department and with the support of Sri Gokarnanatha temple, Kudroli.
Kannada lecturer of St Aloysius PU college here, Dr Ganesh Ameen Sankamar, who delivered message on the occasion, said that Sri Narayana Guru had set up temples to bring people together. He added that Sri Narayana Guru drove away untouchability and then laid emphasis on education. He said that in the current day, people need education more than temples and prayer centres.
City mayor, Bhaskar K, hailed Sri Narayana Guru for his fight against casteism and the way he built a strong society.
Taluk panchayat president here, Muhammed Monu, tahasildar, T Guruprasad, Dakshina Kannada district Kannada Sahitya Parishad president, S Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, president of Gokarnanatha temple committee, H S Sairam, treasurer, Padmaraj R and others were present.
Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, U T Khader, who was to inaugurate the function, several legislators, city corporation commissioner and senior officials were absent although their names were mentioned in the invitation. MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, arrived before the programme went under way, and returned.
Udupi
Leader of the opposition in the state legislative council, Kota Srinivas Poojary, said that the life of Brahmashri Narayana Guru has set an ideal for the society. He hailed the Guru for advocating the slogan, 'one caste, one religion, one god', and laid emphasis on education.
He was speaking after inaugurating the birth anniversary of Sri Narayana Guru organized by the district administration, zilla panchayat, and Kannada and culture department with the support of Katpadi Lord Vishwanath temple on Monday at the Billava community hall at Katpadi.
MP, Shobha Karandlaje, who was the chief guest, said that Narayana Guru has now risen to the status of god and is being worshipped. She said Narayana Guru had given importance to devotion towards gods and Daivas, and his ideals have to be cherished by everyone.
Kaup MLA, Lalaji R Mendon, who presided, hailed Narayana Guru for advocating unity among people. Dr K P Mahalingu Kulkunda delivered lecture. Prizes were distributed to winners of district level essay contest on Narayana Guru.
Zilla panchayat chief executive officer, Shivananda Kapashi, assistant superintendent of police, Kumara Chandra, president of Lord Vishwanath temple governing council, Ashok M Suvarna and others were present.