Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Celebrates Narayana Guru Jayanti
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 21: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah emphasized the importance of building a society where everyone lives with dignity, as envisioned by Brahmashree Narayana Guru. Speaking at the Narayana Guru Jayanti celebration at Ravindra Kalakshetra, he said, “Narayana Guru preached that there is only one caste, one religion, and one God among humans. We should all strive to live by these principles.”
Siddaramaiah highlighted that Narayana Guru, born into the Ezhava community, transcended religious, caste, and language barriers, dedicating his life to social reforms like Buddha, Basava, and Kanakadasa. The government is celebrating Narayana Guru Jayanti at district and taluk levels to honor his legacy.
The Chief Minister pointed out the historical injustices of the caste system, where certain sections were denied property rights and education. He stressed, “Narayana Guru firmly believed that only through education can one break free from these shackles. Without education, there can be no self-respect, and slavery persists.”
Siddaramaiah noted that even after 77 years of independence, not everyone has had the opportunity to be educated. He urged that ensuring education for children is the true way to honor Narayana Guru.
During times when lower castes were denied temple entry, Narayana Guru built over 60 temples in Kerala and spread the message of inclusive worship in coastal regions. Siddaramaiah paid floral tributes to Narayana Guru’s portrait and emphasized eliminating social inequalities to establish a just society.
The Chief Minister assured government support for renovating the student hostel at the Ediga Association premises, constructing a community hall, and establishing the Brahmashree Narayana Guru Development Corporation.
Doubts Revealed
Karnataka -: Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India. It has many big cities like Bengaluru, which is known as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’ because of its tech industry.
Chief Minister -: A Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state. They are responsible for making important decisions and running the state smoothly.
Siddaramaiah -: Siddaramaiah is a politician in India who is currently the Chief Minister of Karnataka. He belongs to the Indian National Congress party.
Narayana Guru Jayanti -: Narayana Guru Jayanti is a celebration of the birth anniversary of Narayana Guru, a social reformer and spiritual leader from Kerala, who worked for equality and education.
Dignity -: Dignity means being respected and valued as a person. It is about treating everyone fairly and with kindness.
Social inequalities -: Social inequalities are unfair differences between people in society, like some people having more money, education, or opportunities than others.
Government support -: Government support means help provided by the government, like money, resources, or programs, to improve people’s lives and communities.
Social reforms -: Social reforms are changes made to improve society, like making sure everyone is treated equally and has access to education and other opportunities.
Inclusive worship practices -: Inclusive worship practices mean allowing everyone, regardless of their background, to participate in religious activities and ceremonies.