Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje  
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)  

Mangalore, Aug 29:  Kum Veerabadrappa, Kendra Sahitya Academy award winning writer, called upon students to fight against the caste system and superstitious beliefs in society at the inaugural ceremony of the four-day state-level study workshop of the Students Federation of India (SFI), at Kalaangann in Shakthinagar on Friday August 28.   

Speaking after the inauguration, Veerabadrappa said that prevailing caste practices in the society affected development of the society, especially in rural areas where most children from Dalit and other backward community are kept away from education. “Caste system which is an evil in the society has hit even educated people in the so-called upper community as well as politicians”, he said.

“Politicians and political parties have not taken up the issue of caste system as a major one, so poverty and most other social problems prevail in the society”, he added.

Veerabadrappa said that even the chief ministers of the state were superstitious and cited instances of offering ‘pooja’ to chairs and wearing ‘prasadam’ given by religious leaders.

Eric Ozario, honorary president for the workshop welcome committee, said in his welcome address that the youth should answer the agenda of vested interests using caste, gender, and religion.

Fr John Fernades, chief of Christianity Studies in Mangalore University, member of parliament P K Viju, SFI leaders H R Naveen Kumar, Ananth Naik, Muneer Katipalla, and Sunil Kumar Bajal, were also present.  District secretary Jeevan Kuttar thanked everyone.