Many sing paeans of Devaraj Urs

Rich tributes paid to former CM on his 101st birth anniversary

 MLC M P Sunil Subramani, on Saturday, sang paeans of former chief minister late D Devaraj Urs, hailing him as the champion of poor and downtrodden communities.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating 101st birth anniversary of Devaraj Urs organised by the district administration in association with zilla panchayat, department of Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare at Kaveri Kalakshetra here, the MLC said, “One should laud Urs for taking a bold step in ensuring the welfare of the backward classes by bringing them to mainstream of the society. It was during his tenure as chief minister that bonded lobour system was abolished and tillers became landlords, besides playing a key role in the implementation of various Acts and laws.”

Benefiting the weak

Writer Prof C Naganna said, “Urs stood distinctly apart amid selfish people and continues to live in the minds of the people.” Urs was also deeply influenced by Carl Marx, Lenin, Vinobha Bhave among several other thinkers and devised his own plans for social welfare.

Deputy Commissioner Richard Vincent D’Souza said, “Urs was a revolutionary leader, who introduced many programmes for the benefit of economically weaker sections. He also infused confidence to live among such people, akin to Constitution of India that mandates living with dignity.” The deputy commissioner felt that the dream of Urs can be fully realised only when the programmes implemented by the government reach oppressed and weaker sections in the society.

Madikeri City Municipal Council President Srimathi Bangera credited Urs for introducing Land Reforms Act, elderly pension, minimum wage among others.

Booklet, procession

A booklet on Urs brought out by the Department of Information and Public Relations was also released.  A documentary on Urs was also screened on the occasion.

Students who excelled in academics and winners of essay writing and elocution contest on Urs were distributed prizes on the occasion.

Earlier, a procession of cultural troupes was taken out from Field Marshall K M Cariappa circle to programme venue. Artistes of Dollu Kunita, Veeragase, Nadaswara among other art forms added colour to the procession.