Narayana Guru Jayanti should not be Bengaluru-centric, says minister V Sunil Kumar

UDUPI: Kannada and culture minister V Sunil Kumar said the department will celebrate Narayana Guru Jayanti in Mangaluru to extend activities beyond Bengaluru and not make everything centred around the capital.
He said the department had decided six months ago to hold the jayanti for all reformers and visionaries in each district. "Reformers and visionaries should not be limited to one caste or community. Their jayanti celebrations also should not be limited to Bengaluru. Hence, the has government decided to hold a state-level celebration in Mangaluru," he said.
"People should join hands to end communal differences and strive for peace and harmony in society by following the ideals of Sri Narayana Guru. The essence of each religion is the well-being of society and peace. Narayana Guru's philosophies have led to the creation of a society with equality," the minister said at a Narayana Guru Jayanti organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat, his department and the Billavara Seva Sangaha Bannanje in Udupi on Saturday.
The state Backward Classes Commission chairman, K Jayaprakash Hegde, said: "The vision of Narayana Guru is essential for equality in society. We need to identify people based on their personality and not on the basis of caste," he said.