Don't deify saints, follow their ideals, citizens told

Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, Department of Kannada Head Prashant Nayak said message of uniting all cultures and living together was given by Maharishi Valmiki through epic Ramayana.

He was delivering a lecture on Maharishi Valmiki on the occasion of Valmiki Jayanti programme, organised by District Administration and Zilla Panchayat (ZP), at Kumar Gandharva Rang Mandir here, on Thursday.

Nayak said,greatness of India lies in the affectionate language spoken and its moral values. Jayanti celebrations of great personalities was to recall the principles, morals and life values preached by them and imbibe them in our lives.

Castes, instead of being small indicators were turning into symbols of ego and it was against the principles of greats.

Instead of seeing saints in the form of gods, we should follow their ideals and conserve them.

The epic Ramayana tells all values of life. Duties of all from administration to family matters were described in it. We should take realistic parts from epics and talk about them. It has become necessary today that all acquire knowledge, he said.

Member of Parliament Suresh Angadi, in his inaugural remarks, said Maharishi Valmiki was symbol of self respect and culture.

The saint should not be confined to one community for political gains. Students should be taught about Ramayana penned by him and we should follow the ideals of the saint.

ZP Chief Executive Officer R Ramchandran said, we could be backward economically but were rich with culture. We should all give attention towards cleanliness and construct toilet in every house and care taken to ensure that funds given by the government for construction of toilets are used for the purpose.

Government and ZP has taken measures for making toilet available in every house. All should join hands for creating healthy society.

Floral tributes
Floral tributes were paid to the portrait of Maharishi Valmiki. Earlier a procession of statue of Maharishi Valmiki was taken out from Ashok Circle to Kumar Gandharva Rang Mandir. Various cultural troupes took part in the procession.

ZP President Asha Aihole presided over. ZP Vice President Arun Katamble, MLC Mahantesh Kavatgimath, Additional Deputy Commissioner Suresh Itnal, Tahsildar Manjula Nayak and other dignitaries were present. Mayor Sanjot Bandekar, MLAs Sanjay Patil and Feroz Saitand other dignitaries participated.