Develop scientific temper among youths: Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday laid emphasis on the need for developing scientific temperament among youths by imparting them education on similar lines.

Speaking after inaugurating Brahmashree Narayana Guru Study Chair at Mangalore University, he said, “If scientific temperament is not developed, the youth will compromise with the existing conditions in the society for living. But I am not advising anybody against practicing their own religion, but strive to bring in reforms as practised by Swami Vivekananda.”

Equating the practice of untouchability with mental illness, he said there is a need to change such a mindset among the people with timely treatment.

Siddaramaiah said social reformer Narayana Guru’s thoughts still hold relevance.
He lauded him for striving to bring in changes in the social and religious set-up and also academics. Those were the times when casteism was at its peak in Kerala. Narayana Guru fought odds and emerged as a thinker and a visionary, he recalled.

When the untouchables were not allowed to temples in the God’s own country, he initiated the opening of 60 temples for the oppressed classes. With the same zeal that he founded Sri Gokarnanatha Temple at Kudroli in Mangaluru, he said.

Following an appeal from writer Baragur Ramachandrappa to sanction annual funds to study chairs getting rid of the practice of funding the activities with the interest generated from the principal amount, the chief minister promised to release pending Rs 1 crore to Narayana Guru Study Chair against Rs 2 crore allotted. But he was non-commital on sanctioning annual funds, but said funds will be provided to all the active chairs at the universities in the state.

Earlier, Minister for Higher Education Bavaria Rayareddy said, “Narayana Guru struggled towards building egalitarian society.”

Baragur Ramachandrappa lauded the government for releasing Rs 19 crore towards wholesale purchase of books.

Vice Chancellor K Byrappa announced plans to set up a study chair in the name of poet Muddanna.

He also reminded the government of the amount which is yet to be released for setting up of Rani Abbakka Study Chair in the university.

A total of 19 books on various topics, published by Prasaranga, the publication wing of the university, were released. A new building of Applied Botany and Modular Laboratory was also inaugurated on the occasion.