Kalam calls for serving the people

Tumkur, Karnataka, Apr 8 (UNI) President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam paid rich tributes to the revered pontiff of the Sidhaganga Mutt Sri Shivakumara Swamiji on the occasion of the 100th year of birth day being celebrated by devotees today and described him as the 'great sage' dedicated himself to the services of the human race.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Abdul Kalam has said that the country was witnessing Swamijee who has been performing tap as in serving the human kind for the last 77 years without any bread and has freed himself from passion, anger, love and hate due to it.

"Presence of such great souls in the country, spreads peace and promote spiritual prosperity. He is a beacon light that attracts and spreads the spiritual message to the people and the society" he said.

Lauding the contributions made by the swamiji, he said that sri Sivakumara Swamiji was an example of spreading the message of 'giving'. "He (Swamiji) has been on a tireless mission of socio-economic development and eradication of evils of illiteracy and discrimination through giving. He saw education and alleviation of hunger among the masses as an effective means to enrich human capacity which in turn would contribute to national reconstruction." "Swamiji has followed the footprints of his Guru of providing free boarding home to the students which is now serving the needs of over 8,000 students every day. Besides 2000 pilgrims and visitors in the Math were also provided food every day. During the last seven decades Swamiji has founded 125 educational institutions ranging from nursery to institutions of technology, pure science, arts, management, vocational training and performing arts." He said.

Sree Sree Shivakumara Swamiji in his message said that society can improve if people elect such people who are intelligent, honest, and who can work by understanding the problems of the people.

The Swamiji who was recently conferred 'Karnataka Rathna' by the State government, said that since we are selecting illiterate, half-learned, political criminals the society was not improving.

"In democracy one should be intelligent and have good leadership qualities which can contribute for the upliftment of one and all in the society. We want leaders those can understand common people problems and work towards solving their grievances and not those who fight for continuing to remain in the Chair", he added.

Swamiji also said that honest people always work for the welfare of the common people and they never bring caste or creed in their serving.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, in his address, assured to consider to name the recently established Tumkur University on swamiji's name.

Mr Kumaraswamy also assured that steps would be taken to develop Virapura village, the birth place of Shivakumara Swamy. Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Mr Mallikarjuna Kharge also addressed the gathering on the occasion.

UNI