Mangalore, Sep 9: The 160th birth anniversary of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru was observed at Guru Jayanthi celebration programme organised by Sree Narayana Samskarika Vedi, Mangalore at Town Hall in the city on Monday.
The occasion was celebrated with bhajans, folk songs and distribution of scholarships to deserving students at Town Hall.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the formal programme, Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake said that Narayan Guru emphasized and enshrined the gospel of one caste, one religion and one god' in a society which had been broken into fragments by casteism and economic equality. The society was steered towards social equality from untouchability by the principles taught by Narayan Guru. It was he who had conceptualized social equality and social justice to all, which were most valuable to the society, he said.
He said that Narayan Guru was one of the earliest social reformers who spoke about social equality like others such as Basavanna, Kanakadasa and Baba Saheb Ambedkar. His teachings are relevant for the downtrodden among all castes and communities in the society, he said.
Mr Sorake said that the state government had granted a sum of Rs 2 crore to set up Narayan Guru Research Centre at Mangalore University to spread his teachings. He added that the life and teachings of the social reformer would be included in the syllabus for primary children in schools.
Swamy Guruprasad of Shivagiri Mutt, Kerala spoke on the occasion and blessed the gathering.
K Vijay Kumar, T K Rajan, T V Mohanan, T A Ashokan, Karunakaran of Malabar Gold and others were present on the occasion.
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