'Don't identify Valmiki as member of particular community'

Delivering the presidential address at the Valmiki Jayanthi programme organised by the district administration here on Friday, Ravi said, “society identifies Basavanna and Kanakadasa on basis of their castes. However, it is not fair to identify Valmiki as member of a particular community,” he added.

“Harmony should be prevailed in the society and boundaries of caste should be eradicated. People should make Rama as the role model in their life,” he said adding that mankind should show concern towards animals and birds too.

Zilla Panchayat Vice-President Manjula Raghumoorthi speaking after inaugurating the programme said that the government has paid due respect to Valmiki by holding celebrations for his Jayanthi. “Members of the Valmiki community are economically backward. The government should provide all support so that the younger generation in the community will get education and will be able to lead a respectful life in future,” she added.

Lecturer Bheemappa spoke on the life and works of Valmiki on the occasion. He said that Valmiki was true secular social reformer, social scientist, educationist, philosopher and political expert. Valmiki Jayanthi should be celebrated in village and hobli-levels too, he added. Zilla Panchayat President K M Kemparaj distributed prizes to exam toppers on the occasion.