Govt. aims to eliminate social discrimination - Sorake

Govt. aims to eliminate social discrimination - Sorake

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Nov 9, 2014: Speaking after inaugurating the birth anniversary celebrations of Kankadasa organised by the district administration,  Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said Kanakadasa was the indomitable spirit who worked for an equitable society through true devotion and love.   The minister said that the poet and spiritual crusader was a saint  who proposed the essence of equitable society. The legend was poet and visionary rolled along with virtues of devotion, simultaneously being the artist, orator, cultural ambassador, social reformer, folk analyst, rebel with humanitarian values and roles. He added that there are many number of people who sacrificed themselves for the sake of equitable and justified society.

Assuming that the period during Kanakadasa was no different from the present day society, the minister lamented that the fight for equality has been the struggle irrespective of generations and ages. The prejudiced mindset that prevailed down the ages continues to be present in the current society at the same pace  in a more intense form. Kanakadasa is also part of Udupi temple history, as he is closely associated with Lord Krishna. The minister said Basavanna was also one of many crusaders for social equality. Dr B R Ambedkar also worked on the similar lines. He said the entire humanity is one and the mankind should be treated equally. Kudmul Ranga Rao is one more personality, who proposed the similar thoughts. He added that everyone who struggled to eradicate the preconceived notion over isolating humanity in the name of caste and creed should be remembered.

The minister also added that the present Congress government is committed towards bringing in changes to eliminate the social evils. The society needs to be transformed. He said currently the SC/ST community members  receive  Rs 15000 crore as the welfare funds in contrast to the earlier Rs 75000 crore. He said the State government has taken up commendable measure by ordering for caste wise census. He stressed that the government solely believes that education is the only way out to bring in changes among the social and economic strata of the downtrodden. Accordingly, the government has announced several schemes that benefit the school students of lower castes. A girl receives Rs 2 per single attendance. A student receives Rs 1500 in the form of hostel fees. Around Rs 50000 will be spent on the programme. Government has plans to build as many as 100 additional Morarji Desai schools and another 5000 hostels for students in the current fiscal year. He said the students should have strong determination to achieve success, the minister added.

Delivering a talk on the occasion, Suma, a Kannada professor from the Government College lamented that the beliefs that divide the people in the name of caste and religion is still prevalent, despite the fight against the discrimination by great people like Kanakadasa since time immemorial. Kanakadasa remains ever relevant in this background. He believed in the equitable society. She ridiculed that development should not always be one sided. The development is not development when it forgets to treat humans as humans. Kanakadasa stands as legendry, when he stood against the people who did not allow him to enter the world of spirituality. He used spirituality as the approach to reach Lord in the midst of all those who distracted him from his mission. He proposed inclusive politics. She said everyone should go for self retrospection by questioning themselves, that is, any space for the great thinking of the legendry Kanakadasa in the present world of intellectuals, she added.

Udupi DC Dr Vishal  stated,  just,  equitable and rational  society is the need of the hour and students should make an attempt to change society by being the messengers of equality and the ideals of Kanakadasa.

Kanaka Yatra in Udupi:  Speaking after inaugurating the valedictory ceremony for Kanaka Sadhbhavana Jyothi Rathyatra to mark 527 birth anniversary celebrations of Kanakadasa,  The Paryaya Sri Krishna mutt seer Sri Vidyavallabhatheertha Swamiji said that Kanakadasa pioneered the idea of unity through spiritual devotion and stressed on the concept of ’intrinsic purity’.  The seer stressed on Kanakadasa’s  preaching  through song.

Kanakadasa pioneered by upholding  the values of unity and eschewed  discrimination. He said all humans are basically  the same. They are not different from each other due to caste or religion. He said that God  is impressed with pure love and he is least bothered about the caste or the religion of the devotee.   Kankadasa was instrumental in making the world realise that caste and religion has nothing to do with devotion.      Noble ides  are possible within  only when the human  comes out from greediness and sin. Sin is nothing but discriminating against humans in the name of caste and other petty matters, the seer added.

Ramakrishna Yogashrama seer Swami Yogeshwarananda said that Kanakadasa stands as the best ever example who proposed the idea of harmony and equality. Egalitarian society was the root of his thoughts and preaching.

The Rathyatra is set  to create awareness among the people on Kankadasa and his preaching. The Rathyatra was welcomed at the "Dwara" the ceremonial gate  in Jodukatte with a colorful procession. The procession comprised of ‘Thattiraya’, ‘Beerudavali, ‘Nasik band’, ‘Bhajan’, ‘Nadaswara’, ‘Chende’ and ‘saxophone recital’.    The Kanaka Sadbhavana Jyoti Rath Yatra, which began from the birthplace of the saint-composer Kanakadasa at Bada-Kaginele on November 5, culminated here on November 8 Saturday.  Various cultural groups and tableaux participated in the procession.