Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday lauded the examples set by social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, stating that the Guru had heralded a social revolution, the impact of which could be felt across the country even after eight decades of him attaining samadhi.
Speaking after inaugurating a pilgrims’ conference at the 82nd Sivagiri pilgrimage at the Sivagiri Madhom, near Varkala, Mr. Singh said every tough or probing period in the history of the country had witnessed the birth or emergence of a great soul like Sree Narayana Guru.
Social revolution
None could imagine standing up against the systems of caste and untouchability 100 years ago, but that was what the Guru did, and the impact of the social revolution he triggered was evident in Kerala even now, with the rest of the country too warming up to his teachings.
Placing the Guru among the high echelon of saints and social reformers, including Kabir, Ravidas, Ayyankali and Pandit Karuppan, Mr. Singh, gave his interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita couplet Sva-dharme nidhanam sreya; para-dharmo bhayavahah – stating that each person had to follow his/her own dharma/duty and practices of his or her own religion.
The Guru too had echoed this concept from the Gita, which in effect obliterated the need for religious conversions.
Lifting Kerala
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, delivering the keynote address at the conference, said the Guru had lifted Kerala from a state of backwardness to being the most educated State.
Dr. Swamy also called for the setting up of a national university with Central support, focusing on the Guru’s teachings and vision. He also called for installing a statue of the Guru in Delhi.