Movement to restore national values

Mumbai, Apr 26 (UNI) A spiritual leader from the temple town of Trissur in Kerala is on a national mission to restore the decaying national and ethical values and attempting to mount a movement.

As a precursor to the movement, a Foundation for Restoration of National Values has been formed with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director E Sreedharan being the President.

Briefing mediapersons after meeting of the working committee of the Foundation here yesterday, Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha of Narayanashrama Tapovanam in Trissur said, ''It is disheartening to note that while our economic growth and advancement are rated with esteem, India is one of th most corrupt countries in the world. An epidemic of ambition has overtaken many, intercepting the desired growth and retaining the nation's much needed development,'' he said, adding the Foundation would take all necessary steps to restore ethical and cultural values of the country, and if necessary even move the government to make necessary constitutional amendments.

Expressing anguish over the current political system in which the ethos of the country had been given a go by, Swamiji said there was need for social thinkers to awaken the country and instil ethical stability and bring about a reformation.

The Swamiji has support from some of the top notch industrialists and legal luminaries with Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata in a message stating ''Economic growth without a strong underpinning of values which govern individual and social life is lopsided.'' As India has become economically stronger and connected with other regions of the world, it is all the more essential for the countrymen to pay to the strong and relevant universal values that contribute to national well being, human dignity and social growth, he stated adding that there could not be a more opportune time than now to focus on the issue.

Former Chief Justice of India M N Venkatachalaiah, extending support to the movement, said in such times of unprecedented economic and social volatility one could not succeed by being clever, even applying time tested values might not guarantee success, but not doing so would guarantee failure. The relent pursuit of wealth and power which is dominating life today had a dehumanising effect on the culture of the inner man, he added.

The Foundation had planned regional centres to promote its goal and was holding a national value summit on November 18 and 19 to chalkout the future course of action. The outcome of the Summit would be the guiding factor to take the movement forward, Swamiji said.

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