Economic prosperity is not the indication of the development of a nation, but the existence of righteous citizens, remarked former President of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.

He was addressing a huge gathering during the valedictory of the platinum jubilee celebration of the Sarvadharma and Sahitya Sammelanas at ‘Amritavarshini’ here on Sunday.

Dr Kalam said there should always be a fair blend of economic prosperity and spiritual enlightenment, and added that showing the way of individual family happiness was the great challenge of all religious leaders in the contemporary world.

Indicating the ways of developing righteousness, he said only father, mother and primary school teacher can imbibe righteous attitude among the individuals. Righteousness in the family may lead to the same in the society, nation and even in the world, he noted.

Further, Dr Kalam said, education with value system, study of leaders who have given dignity of human life and leaders who have worked on societal reforms are the avenues to build a society with righteous attitude.
Children who were the centre of the missile man’s attraction in the programme, received the eventual advice that they should love each other and respect each other’s religion. When he told his concluding words-”dignity of human life should not be eradicated even during heated election campaigns”- there was a message for the entire world.

Naxal menace
In his address, Art of Living Founder Ravishankar Guruji appealed the audience to prosper their soft power, i.e., knowledge and humanity in order to reproduce a peaceful world.

“Where all religions co-exist, there one can witness humanity and harmony. The absence of this coherence is the fundamental cause for naxal menace in the country,” he observed.

Regretting over man’s attitude of careless utilisation of natural resources, Guruji said the first goal of religion is to protect water and soil. He also appealed the citizens to forsake the use of plastic and go for rain water harvesting.

Later, a literary conference was held under the presidentship of Rashtrakavi Dr G S Shivarudrappa.
Dr Tontada Siddhalinga Swamiji inaugurated the meet.
Hampi Kannada University Prasaranga Director Prof Mallepuram G Venkatesh delivered a lecture on literary movements.

Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade and Prof S Prabhakar among others were present. Cultural programmes followed.