Mangaluru: A study chair inaugurated by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will enable research scholars to know more about social reformer and saint Brahmashri Narayana Guru. A fund of Rs. 2 Crore will be granted by the state government for detailed study and research on the history, life and teachings of the saint by Mangaluru University students and interested scholars.
The contributions of Narayana Guru Swamy to the downtrodden community has been lauded by people as he reformed the society and gave rights to the lower caste people to visit temples. After the religious ban on dalits from entering temples run by upper class Hindus, Narayana Guru established temples dedicated to the lower caste so that they did not have to undergo subjugation. Acknowledging this social reform by the Swamy, the Karnataka government had put forth a proposal to establish a study chair in a bid to let students study Narayana Guru’s history.
P V Mohan, a former member of Mangaluru University Syndicate pointed out that the idea of putting up a study chair on Narayana Guru Swamy was initiated in a Syndicate Committee meeting in 2008. “This study chair will be of great help to students and the researchers can gather more information regarding the history of Narayana Guru through this”, he added.
Muddu Moodubelle, Brahmashri Narayana Guru Study Chair Director said that the chair would be used to the complete extent in pursuit of more knowledge about Narayana Guru Swamy. “Students of Mangaluru University and research scholars can utilise this chair to learn more about the great social reformer. Though the study about Narayana Guru and his history cannot be completed within a day or two, a complete yearlong study is advised”, he said.
“The youth can be benefitted by this study chair as they can get more information on the subject. The objective of setting up this chair will be complete when more unknown facts about the saint will be unfurled by scholars”, said Mangaluru University Vice-Chancellor K Byrappa while advocating in-depth study about Narayana Guru Swamy’s life history.
After inaugurating the study chair at the University, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the state government had released Rs. 1 Crore grants for this study chair. “An additional Rs. 1 Crore will be granted soon. This chair should be utilised to the fullest extent and should be better than the study chairs of other universities”, he said.
