Belthangady, September 16: Senior journalist Dinesh Amin Mattu said that Hindu religion was survived today because of revolutionary social reformers like Narayana Guru and not because of Shankaracharya.

Speaking at the 164 Jayanti of Sri Narayana Guru, organised by the Sri Guru Narayana Swamy Seva Sangha, Billava Youth Association and Women Billava Association here on Sunday, he said that the movement started by Narayana Guru was not just a religious movement. It was a cultural movement and there was a need to continue it even today, he said.

“Varnashrama system is a curse to the Hindu society. If people say it is the Hindu religion, I will strongly oppose it. Everybody loves Narayana Guru. But his ideologies are not being emulated. Now, the patriotism has become the biggest political commodity of the country. But we can see the real patriotism among soldiers. There is no relationship between the soldiers and those who speak about patriotism and do politics in their name”, he said.

Billava community has the tradition of soldier and doctors. Koti Chennayya of this land had fought for truth, justice and self-respect and it was the first class conflict. His ideals should be emulated to the society. He had not fought for the entry of temples, but had brought the temples to the door steps of exploited classes. He had advocated simple rituals. But now, lavishness had got place due to which, the exploited class was lagging behind in all aspects, he said.

The person who accepts the ideologies of Narayana Guru would not become communal. Instead, he would love everyone. The Elava community which was an exploited class in Kerala has got all positions from Chief Minister to other higher positions. But in Karnataka, the representation of the Billava community was decreasing. At one time, there were six MPs. But now, only one MP was there in the community, he said.

Former MLA K Vasanth Bangera who inaugurated the programme said that only education could improve the condition of the exploited classes in the society.

Brahmananda Saraswati Swamiji of Kanyadi said that religion should be the lifeline of the society. The ideals of Narayana Guru should be adopted in real life instead of restricting them just for speeches. Gurukul education system was the best education method, he said.

Former presidents of the Association, Vasanth Salian, Padmanabh Maninja, Raju Poojary, Yogesh Kumar, Bhagiratha G, Jayaram Bangera, Women Billava Vedike president Rajashri Raman, vedike founder president Sujitha V Bangera, Yuva Billava Vedike president Santosh Uppar and others were present.

Association president Somanath Bangera Varpale presided over the programme in which 12 ex-servicemen and 12 soldiers of the community were felicitated. A sum of Rs 6 lakh scholarship was distributed. Sanjeeva Poojary Mooda and Dayananda Poojary Mittabagilu who have contributed for the agriculture sector were felicitated. Village Committees were given Brahmashri medals. Dinesh Suvarna Rayi, association secretary Rakesh Kumar Mudukodi and others were present.

“The ideology of Sri Narayana Guru was completely neglected at the Dharma Samsad held at Kanyadi. Forget me, my slipper would not go to such Dharma Sansad where the ideologies of Narayana Guru are neglected. When I listened to the speech of Kanyadi swamiji, I surprised whether it was Narayana Guru Jayanti or Shankaracharya Jayanti. Those who opposed the previous swamiji when the latter had established the mutt, were present at the programme which is a tragedy”.

-Dines Amin Mattu

 

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Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.

The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.

As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.

"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.

"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.

Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.