Biography of social reformer Narayana Guru released
New Delhi, June 14: A comprehensive biography of Keralas prominent social reformer and philosopher Sree Narayana Guru was launched here on Thursday, with the aim of popularising his life and teachings beyond the state.
Titled "Sree Narayana Guru: The Perfect Union of Buddha and Sankara", the biography, written by Asokan Vengassery Krishnan, was released by Rajya Sabha member Narendra Jadhav at a function in the Teen Murti House.
The 396-page book, published by Konark Publishers, has been edited by veteran journalist M.R. Narayan Swamy.
"Guru is widely known in Kerala, but not so much outside it. The idea is to take his teachings and philosophy to India and rest of the world, with this book," Krishnan told IANS.
In his address, Jadhav, likened the anti-caste crusade of Narayana Guru to that of B.R. Ambedkar.
This book chronicles the illustrious life of the sage who emerged as the conscience of Kerala in the twentieth century, the publisher said in a statement.
"As a social reformer, his impact was unmatched in history. Thoss who had been denied basic human rights for centuries were able to experience dramatic changes in their lives due to the awakening caused by Guru's teachings," it said.
In the book's preface, Krishnan writes that he had striven to "unravel the multifaceted personality of Sree Narayana Guru as a saint, sage, 'siddha', 'yogi', socio-religious reformer, thinker, educator, philosopher, pragmatic visionary, and poet".
Rajya Sabha member V. Muraleedharan deemed it as a book "relevant to present time", and said his teachings have universal applicability.
The dignitaries present during the launch include former Indian Council for Cultural Relations chairman Lokesh Chandra, Kerala MP A. Sampath, former diplomat T.P. Sreenivasan, fomer Kannur University Vice Chancellor P. Chandramohan among others.
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SC directs President's secretary to place before her Beant assassination convict's mercy plea
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday directed President Droupadi Murmu's secretary to place before her the mercy petition of death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the 1995 assassination case of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, for consideration.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai, P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan requested the President to consider the plea within two weeks.
"Inspite of the matter being specifically kept today none appeared for Union of India. The bench assembled only for this case," the bench said.
"On the last date the matter was adjourned to enable the Union to take instructions from the office of the President as to by when will mercy plea be decided. Taking into consideration that the petitioner is on a death row, we direct the secretary to the President of India to place the matter before the President with a request to consider the same within two weeks from today," the bench said.
The matter will now be heard on December 5.
On September 25, the top court had sought responses from the Centre, the Punjab government and the administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh on Rajoana's plea.
The then Punjab chief minister and 16 others were killed in a blast at the entrance of the civil secretariat in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995.
A special court sentenced Rajoana to death in July 2007.
Rajoana has said that a mercy petition under Article 72 of the Constitution was moved by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on his behalf in March 2012.
On May 3 last year, the apex court had refused to commute his death sentence and said the competent authority could deal with his mercy plea.
