JOIN US'Include Narayana Guru's teachings in curriculum'
District In-Charge Minister B Ramanath Rai said ideals and teachings propagated by social reformer Narayana Guru were helpful in bringing about social change in the society.
He was speaking after inaugurating Narayana Guru Jayanthi programme organised jointly by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat and Kannada and Culture department here at Sree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple hall on Friday.
He said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after inaugurating Brahmashree Narayana Guru Jnana Mandira at Sajeepamooda village in Bantwal taluk, had announced on April 22 that the state government would observe the birth anniversary of Narayana Guru from this year. The promise has been fulfilled through a government order in this regard to observe Narayana Guru Jayanthi in all the 30 districts and all the taluk headquarters of the state, he added.Rai said the government is committed to the welfare of poor and has earmarked Rs 15,000 crore for the welfare of SC/ST communities.
In his introductory speech, Gokarnanatheshwara Temple spokesperson Harikrishna Bantwal said teachings of Sree Narayana Guru should be spread to arrest challenges posed by religious extremism. Had the people understood the true meaning of Narayana Guru’s philosophy of “One God, One Religion and One Caste” and practised it faithfully, the country’s problems of inequality and untouchability could have been easily overcome, he felt.
Philosophy and teachings of Narayana Guru should be included in school and college curriculum. There is a need to teach humanitarian values among the students, which is declining in the society,
he noted.
Prof M S Kotian of KMC, Mangaluru, said Sree Narayana Guru brought in a change in the society by leading a reform movement in Kerala, rejecting caste system and promoting social equality, at a time when untouchability was prevailing in the country. He built a temple at Sivagiri and brought about social reforms by allowing the backward and oppressed classes to enter inside the temple.
Narayana Guru had also stressed on the empowerment of youths through education, he added.
Dr Ganesh Ameen Sankamar said the state government has contributed for the development of backward classes by observing Narayana Guru Jayanthi. There is a need to follow the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru to check the raging Cauvery dispute, Dr Amen said.