Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal share a word during the centenary celebrations of the dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru, at Mangalore University campus, Konaje on Wednesday.
Credit: DH Photo / Fakruddin H
Mangaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday announced that the State government will sanction five acres of land for establishing a branch of the Sivagiri Mutt either in Dakshina Kannada or in Udupi district. He urged concerned to identify suitable land so that approval can be granted immediately.
He was speaking after inaugurating the centenary celebrations of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Sri Narayana Guru, as well as the centenary of the Guru’s Mahasamadhi, held at Mangalore University campus.
The programme was organised under the leadership of the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair.
The Chief Minister said that true freedom cannot be achieved unless economic and social justice reach everyone, inequality is eliminated. Despite decades of independence, traces of caste-based discrimination continue to linger daily.
"A wealthy Dalit is often addressed in the singular form, while people from upper castes are addressed using plural honorifics — a practice that reflects deep-rooted social hierarchy. This highlights how the legacy of slavery persists subtly, despite constitutional guarantees of equality," he said.
“No one becomes superior or inferior because of caste. But even today, a person’s individuality is judged based on their caste. The discrimination practiced in the name of caste must end,” he added.
Siddaramaiah said the values of tolerance and coexistence must be strengthened in the region. “All religions preach love, peace and harmony. People should not be divided on the basis of caste or religion,” he said.
Quoting Narayana Guru, he said that blind beliefs and superstitions should be eradicated. Narayana Guru’s message—“One caste, one religion, one God for all”—laid the foundation for social and religious equality for the oppressed, he noted.
The Chief Minister recalled that the State Government had, during its 2016 tenure, initiated the official celebration of Brahmashree Narayana Guru Jayanti across all districts and taluks to spread the teachings of Narayana Guru.
Siddaramaiah said that Narayana Guru’s social, cultural, religious and educational reforms transformed centuries-old social structures. “For those who were denied opportunities due to the caste system, Narayana Guru’s movement opened new doors,” he said.
Terming Gandhi–Guru conversation a “golden chapter in Indian history,” the CM said the dialogue, held a century ago, guided modern India with its emphasis on freedom, Satyagraha, non violence, eradication of untouchability and unity.
The CM said "Narayana Guru believed caste had no divine basis and represented only the human race."
Siddaramaiah said Narayana Guru’s principle—“Liberation through education; empowerment through organisation”—directly inspired Gandhi’s concept of basic education. Both leaders saw education as the tool for ending inequality.
Sivagiri Mutt president Swami Sachidananda said that there are many temples and institutions in the name Sri Narayana Guru across Kerala, other states of India and in foreign countries like America, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the Gulf region.
“Ashram of the Shivagiri Mutt needs to be established in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. We requested that the government must donate at least five acres of land. We requested KC Venugopal to call the attention of the Government of India in the Parliament to ensure that a stamp to commemorate the centenary of the historic meeting of Sri Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi be released," he said.
“Sri Narayana Guru is a ‘Vishwa Mahaguru’, like Sri Krishna, Sri Buddha, Jesus Christ, and Sri Shankaracharya. Let Sri Narayana Guru’s teachings are spread among the masses across the world,” he added.
The Chief Minister laid the foundation for the extension of the work on Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair at Mangalore University on the occasion.