Astrologers, purohits are real terrorists of country: Jnanaprakash Swamiji
139th jayanti of Periyar
Bengaluru, September 17: Jnanaprakash Swamiji of Urilingapeddi Mutt of Mysuru said that the astrologers and purohits who create fear among people by making religious feelings as their capital were the real terrorists of the country.
Speaking at the 139th jayanti of Dravidian cultural thinker Periyar Ramaswami, organised by the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (samatavada) at Cubbon Park here on Monday, he said that making the religious beliefs as their weapon, the astrologers and purohits have been exploiting the people creating fear among them and they were the real terrorists of the country. Along with this, with the slogan 'Bharat mata ki jai', the country was being divided, he said.
Cheating hymns
"During marriage, we bring Mangalasutram. But the purohits say 'mangalyam tantu nanenah' which means purohit would tie the Mangalasutram to the bride. In the same way, after tying the Mangalasutram, another sanskrit hymn says 'after making your wife to sleep with Indra, Agni, Varuna and Kubhera, you have sleep with her. This was taken from the Vivah samhita of Manusmriti, which is a cheating, he said.
Swami Vivekananda had said that 'dont go to temple in search of god. God is in the heart of the poor. But politics was being done in the name of religion and exploited in the name of castes. The situation in the country was opposite to what the philosophers and social reformers said, he said.
Periyar was questioning those who were exploiting the people by making their ignorance and their faith on the god as tool. He advocated his ideologies the basis of rationality, he said.
There was no use if temples were constructed thinking that the god would come and protect the exploited. Dr Ambedkar, Periyar, Pile, Vasava na and others have toiled for the welfare of the exploited in the society. They had brought them the self respect, education and reservation. So, the exploited, poor and the Dalit should be their followers, he said.
Senior high court advocate C Jagadish, Periyar thinker Kalai Selvi, H Hadappa of DSS and others were present.
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KMES Institutions shine in SSLC result, continue four-decade legacy of education in rural Karkala
Karkala: KMES Institutions of Education at Kukkundooru in Karkala taluk has recorded outstanding results in the 2025-26 SSLC and PUC examinations, continuing a four-decade educational journey that began with just 22 kindergarten students and no building of its own.
The institution secured a 100 per cent result in the SSLC examinations, with all 43 students passing the examination this year.
Muhammad Arman Shahid emerged as the school topper by scoring 619 marks out of 625, securing 99 per cent and also ranking sixth at the state level. He scored full marks in Kannada, Hindi, Mathematics and Social Science.
Krithika V. Nayak secured the second position in the school with 607 marks and 97.12 per cent, while Arhan stood third with 605 marks and 96.8 per cent.
Out of the 43 students, 21 passed with distinction, 19 secured first class, two students obtained second class and one student passed in third class. Fourteen students scored above 90 per cent.
The institution also performed strongly in the PUC examinations. The Science stream recorded a 100 per cent result, with all 44 students passing, while Commerce secured a 98 per cent pass percentage.
Twelve students scored full marks in different subjects, including Mathematics.
In Commerce, Deeksha Acharya topped the college with 588 marks, while Harshitha H. Kini secured the second position with 581 marks.
In Science, Naveen B. Nayak emerged as topper with 586 marks, followed closely by Sameeksha Moily and Aifa Nidha, who both secured 585 marks.
Speaking about the achievement, High School head teacher Shrimati Patkar said the institution has always focused on supporting academically weak students through affordable education and free special classes.
“Our ambition is to provide quality education even to students who struggle in studies. The fees are very low, and free coaching classes are conducted. I have worked here for 28 years and have always found the atmosphere supportive of education,” she said.
Primary School head teacher Lolita Zeena D’Silva appreciated the dedication of the teaching staff and said the school encourages students not only to achieve high marks but also to become role models.
PU College Principal Balakrishna Rao said the institution focuses on value-based education and overall personality development.
“The aim is to help students succeed not only academically but also in cultural activities, sports and leadership. We encourage qualities such as patience, tolerance and discipline,” he said.
Rao also credited the institution’s growth to the support of founders K.S. Mohammed Masood and K.S. Nissar Ahmed, along with President K.S. Imtiaz Ahmed.
Speaking on the occasion, Imtiaz Ahmed said the institution was built on the dream of making quality education accessible to financially backward families in rural areas.
He said the guidance and encouragement of his elder brothers, Mohammed Masood and Nissar Ahmed, along with the contribution of teachers, students and parents, helped transform the institution into a model educational centre.
The KMES Institutions trace their roots back to 1984, when they were founded by senior social activists Haji P.M. Khan, K.S. Nazeer Ahmed and Haji A.S. Rashid Haider.
The institution initially functioned from the Government Urdu School premises as it did not have a building of its own. Classes began with only 22 students in lower kindergarten and two teachers.
Later, under the leadership of K.S. Mohammed Masood and with continuous financial and moral support from non-resident businessman K.S. Nissar Ahmed, the institution gradually expanded.
In 1993, the school shifted to its own building and began conducting classes from LKG to Class 5.
As student admissions increased, Nissar Ahmed personally funded the construction of three additional classrooms to address infrastructure shortages.
The institution’s new school building was completed in 1997, while the PU College building was constructed in 2001.
From humble beginnings in a borrowed building to producing state-level rank holders and consistent academic results, the KMES Institutions have grown into one of the prominent educational centres in the Karkala region.
