Kerala Governor lauds Santhigiri Ashram for noble work

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 3 (UNI) Kerala Governor R S Gavai today lauded the great work being done by the Santhigiri Ashram to resolve social discord and dissent and bring about a new society transcending the narrow boundaries of caste, creed and community.

Inaugurating a two-day 'Navapoojitham' celebrations, marking the 82nd birth anniversary of Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru, the founder of Santhigiri Ashram, at Pothencode, near here, Mr Gavai, who is also the Chancellor of the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) extended his full support to any joint venture between the KAU and Santhigiri Ashram in the field of agriculture.

Describing Santhigiri Ashram as a ''labour of love and dedication of the great Karunakara Guru'', the governor said the preceptor focused all his positive and creative energies in developing a new society, which was oriented towards the welfare of the entire humanity, cutting across the narrow considerations of caste, creed and community.

Describing all religions as diverse roadmaps to the same destination, the Supreme Being, Mr Gavai said religions were not contradictory to each other but complementary.

Delivering the Presidential address, Mr Varkala Radhakrishnan, MP, described Karunakara Guru as a ''man of massess'' and a ''true symbol of communal harmony and secularism.'' The Guru's message of communal harmony was all the more relevant today at a time when the country was facing communal tensions in areas such as Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy, in his keynote address, said Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru devoted his entire life to the service of humanity in various areas such as health, education, research and agriculture.

''Mutual trust, compassion and cooperation were the hallmarks of Guru's work and we should work together to make Guru's message a reality,'' he added.

Kerala BJP General Secretary A N Radhakrishnan, in his felicitation remarks, said the Guru devoted his life to the upliftment of the downtrodden sections of society and bringing them into the social mainstream.

KAU Vice-Chancellor K R Viswambharan said the university would join hands with Santhigiri Ashram for further development of agriculture in the state including in areas of medicinal plants and waste disposal.

The two-day 'Navapoojitham' celebrations will continue tomorrow with special prayers and meetings before concluding in the evening with a grand 'Deepapradakshinam' and 'Pushpanjali'.

UNI CR AKM SY RAI1945