The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Uphold Basaveshwara’s message’

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Saturday, Sep 29, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Uphold Basaveshwara’s message’

Special Correspondent

Former President A.P.J. Kalam conferred the Basava Award

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Honoured: Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam receiving the Basava Award from Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Kannada and Culture Minister Mahadeva Prasad at Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore on Friday.

Bangalore: Basaveshwara’s message of “Kayakave Kailasa” (Work is divine) should ring throughout the nation, said former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam after receiving the prestigious Basava Award instituted by the Government of Karnataka.

In a speech interspersed with quotes from the 12th century philosopher-poet Basaveshwara, and anecdotes drawn from scriptures of various religious faiths, he said it was important to rise above ego and listen to the poor and suffering. The award money of Rs. 10 lakh would go to serve the cause of poor, announced Mr. Kalam. Basava integrated the best in all faiths, he said, quoting verses from Bhagawad Gita, Sufi faith, Buddhist scriptures and experiences of Mahatma Gandhi.

Mr. Kalam had a word of praise for Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s programme of Grama Vastavya (village stay) that reaches out to the poor.

Mr. Kumaraswamy, on his part, said that that Mr. Kalam was the inspiration for many of his programmes during his “short stint as Chief Minister” including Grama Vastavya, and the award was a “guru dakshina” from the State. He had kept his word to Mr. Kalam on paying attention to educational issues, said the Chief Minister, and used the opportunity to state that his Government had allocated an unprecedented Rs. 500 crore for education in one financial year.

Home Minister M.P. Prakash said that Mr. Kalam had remained the President in the “hearts and minds of people”. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of schoolchildren, who clamoured to get Mr. Kalam’s autograph after the ceremony. Two of them managed to get on to the stage even as the function was in progress.

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