SHILLONG: Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan called for unity of people irrespective of caste, creed and religion at a function held to observe the 161st birth anniversary of Sree Narayana Guru at U Soso Tham Auditorium here on Sunday.
While recalling the social reformation carried out by Sree Narayana Guru, who was a great visionary, saint, philosopher and advocate of universal brotherhood, the Governor urged the gathering to imbibe the spirit of Sree Narayana Guru and to stand for unity in time of adversities.
The younger generation should understand how Narayana Guru struggled and fought against social evils, inequality and casteism, the Governor said at the event organized by Sree Narayana Guru Cultural Centre (SNGCC), Shillong, a socio-cultural organization with spiritual and philanthropic focus.
The Governor also recalled that inspired by the teaching of Sree Narayana Guru and his famous saying, “One Caste, One Religion and One God for Men”, around ten years ago, he visited Sivagiri, a pilgrimage centre in Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, which houses Sree Narayana Guru’s tomb. “Sree Narayana Guru installed a mirror instead of a deity at the Sivagiri Mutt because God is within you. Sree Narayana Guru should be worshipped because God is inside all of us,” the Governor said.
On the occasion, a national award instituted by Akshaya, a literary organisation from Kerala, “Akshaya National Award 2014” was conferred by former secretary of Kerala Sahitya Akademy, Payipra Radhakrishnan on SNGCC President, M. K. Mohanan.
Radhakrishnan in his speech stressed the need of spreading the message of Sree Narayana Guru across the Northeast.
“There is a need to spread the message of Narayana Guru all over the Northeast and the celebration of Narayana Guru Jayanti in Shillong will be a beginning in this regard,” he added.
Highlighting the need to fight social evils, Radhakrishnan gave the example of Lord Shiva who consumed poison earning the name of Neelakandan, a symbolic gesture to take up on himself the sufferings of the humanity, to conquer the evils.
“Sree Narayana Guru also took upon himself the trials and tribulations of fellow human beings to redeem humanity from all sorts of social evils,” he said.
President of SNGCC, MK Mohanan spoke about the importance of the threefold teachings of Sree Narayana Guru. Picking Guru’s, “Attain economic independence through entrepreneurship,” he said that entrepreneurship can hugely benefit the public.
He also expressed concern over the plight of single mothers in Meghalaya who have to shoulder the responsibilities of their children.
Around 80 delegates representing various Sree Narayana Guru organisations from all over India and abroad attended the three-day session which began on September 18.
The speakers on the occasion including V. K. Mohamed, Vice Chairman, Universal Confederation of Sree Narayana Guru Organisations, New Delhi, A. V. Anoop, Managing Director, AVA Cholayil Health Care Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, R. G. Lyngdoh, Vice Chancellor, Martin Luther Christian University and Fr. George Thadathil, Principal, Salesian College, Darjeeling spoke on the relevance of Sree Narayana Guru in the present day context.
On the occasion awards were also presented to several personalities of Shillong.
Pushpa Bajaj, Director, Shubham Charitable Association, Shillong received ‘Sree Narayana Guru Award for Social Service’, Fr George Palamattathil, Director, Siloam, Umiam, received the ‘Sree Narayana Guru Award for Education’. The ‘Sree Narayana Guru Award for Entrepreneurship’ went to Arfat Swer, who started as a driver to a successful two-wheeler dealer, restaurateur besides running noodles factory, Dr AV Anoop was honoured with the ‘Sree Narayana Guru Lifetime Achievement Award, 2015’ for his rich contribution being a successful entrepreneur. Four underprivileged students were given cash awards.
A souvenir was also released on the occasion.
