Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar has said that steps will be taken to construct Valmiki Bhavan in all districts of the State.
He was addressing a gathering after paying floral tributes to Valmiki at a function organised as part of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti celebration at Vidyavardhaka Sangha here on Friday.
The Minister said that great personalities should not be restricted to any particular community. He said caste was immaterial if a person had the determination to reach his goal.
Mr. Shettar, who is also Dharwad district in-charge Minister, called upon members of the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribe communities to make use of various government schemes to come up in life and gain economic strength.
Pralhad Joshi, MP, said the message of the Ramayana , penned by Maharishi Valmiki, was relevant even today. Dedication and perseverance were crucial if a person had to adorn a higher position. A person should be identified by his achievements and not by his caste, he said.
Bhimasena Acharya Malagi delivered a lecture on Valmiki. Presiding over the function, Chandrakanth Bellad, MLA, said that everyone should contribute towards building a casteless society.
Earlier, Mr. Shettar handed over keys of a tractor and a multipurpose light-motor vehicle to two beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Caste. Seema Masuti, MLA, and Savitri Bhagavati, Dharwad Zilla Panchayat president, were among those present.
Members of the Valmiki Sangha submitted a memorandum, listing their demands, to the Minister on the occasion. A colourful procession was taken out in Dharwad as part of the celebrations.
In Hubli
Participating in the Valmiki Jayanti celebrations in Hubli, Virabhadrappa Halaharavi, MLA, stressed the need for understanding the message in Valmiki's work.
Mohan Limbikai, MLC, said that the life of Valmiki should be an inspiration to the youth. .
Raghavendra Ramadurg, Councillor, said that he would take up the issue of installing a statue of Valmiki in Hubli-Dharwad. S.S. Biradar, Hubli tahsildar, M.B. Gangal, Hubli Taluk Panchayat executive officer, and Basappa Chakalabbi were present. Mahabaleshwara Annigeri, taluk panchayat president, presided over the function. A.C. Tippeswamy and F.B. Soraturu delivered lectures.
Lecture
KLE Society's P.C. Jabin Science College also celebrated Valmiki Jayanti on Friday. S.S. Belavadi delivered a lecture on the life and achievements of the poet. Principal V.B. Hiremath presided over the function.
Special puja
Belgaum Staff Correspondent writes:
Special puja, colourful procession and a public function marked Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti celebration here on Friday.
The celebration were organised by the district administration in association with Belgaum Zilla Panchayat, Belgaum City Corporation and the Department of Social Welfare, apart from associations named after the saint-poet.
The celebrations started with Feroz Sait, MLA, and S.B. Sidnal, senior Congress leader, performing a puja to Valmiki's portrait at Bogarves in the heart of the city. Later, a portrait of Maharishi Valmiki was taken out in a procession. Several folk troupes also participated in the procession.
Later, Umesh V. Katti, Minister for Agriculture and district in charge, addressed a gathering at a function held at the new hall of the Belgaum Bar Association on the court premises. He said that the message of the Ramayana was relevant even today.
N.B. Nirvani, Belgaum Mayor, Ashwini Patil, zilla panchayat president, Suresh C. Angadi and Prabhakar B. Kore, MPs, Ekroop Caur, Deputy Commissioner, and Govindraju, zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer, were among those present.
Several institutions and organisations, including R.P.D. College of Arts and Commerce, also celebrated Valmiki Jayanti.
