March 12, 1925, Mahatma Gandhi met Kerala’s Saint and Social Reformer Sree Narayana Guru – a coming together of two visionaries of modern world who in their own ways opposed the cast and untouchable system in India.
Gandhi was to say the meeting with Narayana Guru in Sivagiri, Travancore (Kerala) influenced his life in many ways and his battle against untouchability sparkled in the villages and all over India.
To commemorate this meeting Hon. Lalit Mansingh, India’s Ambassador to the United States, proclaimed March 12 as ‘ Gandhi – Guru day ‘ and said it would be celebrated in the name of both leaders. The declaration was made at the request of Mr. B. Aravindakshan, General Secretary of Sree Narayana World Council, New York. Aravindakshan along with council officials Govindan K. Janardhanan - President, Babu Uthaman- Chief Operating Officer, S.K. Sreekumar- Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Parthasaradi Pillai – President, National Federation of Indian-American Associations and Sunny Wycliffe – Indian Community Leader were present in the discussions with the Ambassador.
To commemorate this meeting Hon. Lalit Mansingh, India’s Ambassador to the United States, proclaimed March 12 as ‘ Gandhi – Guru day ‘ and said it would be celebrated in the name of both leaders. The declaration was made at the request of Mr. B. Aravindakshan, General Secretary of Sree Narayana World Council, New York. Aravindakshan along with council officials Govindan K. Janardhanan - President, Babu Uthaman- Chief Operating Officer, S.K. Sreekumar- Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Parthasaradi Pillai – President, National Federation of Indian-American Associations and Sunny Wycliffe – Indian Community Leader were present in the discussions with the Ambassador.
Ambassador Mansingh also handed over the Sree Narayana World Council flag to the followers of Sree Narayana Guru. The ceremonial flag was taken by B. Aravindakshan to the 3rd Sree Narayana Global Convention and Investment meet in Cochin, India from May 10-12, 2003. The flag ceremony and declaration of March 12 as Gandhi-Guru Day took place at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial outside the embassy on Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC.
Members and officials of Sree Narayana World Council and Sree Narayana Mission (SNM), Washington DC were present to witness the ceremony at the Gandhi memorial. Indu Kumar, Vice Chairman of the SNM, Shahi Prabhakaran, Community leader, Anil Chaudhury- Minister for Community affairs at the embassy made arrangements for the flag ceremony.
March 12, 1925: During his visit in Travancore (Kerala) Gandhi met Sree Narayana Guru in Sivagiri and exchanged views on social and political balancing in India.
March 12, 1925: During his visit in Travancore (Kerala) Gandhi met Sree Narayana Guru in Sivagiri and exchanged views on social and political balancing in India.
Sree Narayana Guru suggested to Mahatma Gandhi, to bring the socially downtrodden harijans, villagers and the poor to the forefront to fight for India’s freedom from the Europeans. Narayana Guru (Guru) also suggested Gandhi to takes steps to eradicate untouchables and related customs in India.
While Gandhi tried to abolish untouchability from within the Varna system, Narayana Guru condemned chaturvarnya as against the Advaida spirit. The meeting with Narayana Guru triggered a crucial transformation in Gandhi’s approach to caste and color conflict in India and abroad.
They thoughtfully debated on both issues and Guru convinced Gandhi with many examples around them in Sivagiri. Soon after Gandhi reached Wardha, he replaced the upper-class Kitchen workers with Harijans (untouchables) to cook and serve food to all. Gandhi also renamed his publication to Harijan. These changes made waves in the social system of pre independent India and people who were kept apart from all social activities came forward to gain their legacy and followed Gandhi in the independent Struggle.
The next step was to mobilize the villagers who consist 80 % of India’s population, also they were mostly harijans, backward class and poor. People from villages came in thousands to walk with Gandhi and supported the freedom movement. With the involvement of Harijans and villagers, the size of the meetings grows from hundreds to several thousands. Sree Narayana Guru’s advice has helped for these major changes in freedom struggle.
Sree Narayana Guru’s advice to Gandhi brought India’s freedom struggle to a new turn and Gandhi Ji lead the freedom fight with the participation of all sects of India’s poor and untouchables. This change in people’s participation made it hard for the British to resist the voice and strength of India’s vast majority lead to settlement talks.
Following the meeting of Gandhi and Guru in Sivagiri, Gandhi accepted a new social system and followed it in rest of his life. The waves of Gandhi’s new approach for freedom struggle reached Africa and the United States.
The philosophy and teachings of Sree Narayana Guru and principals of Mahatma Gandhi inherited most part of the world to gain freedom and equality. A coming together of two visionaries on March 12, 1925 at Sivagiri was one of the most important days in the modern history of the changing world.
Photo:
Gandhi-Guru Day Declaration by Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansing at Gandhi Memorial in Washington, DC.
Officials and members of Sree Narayana World Council, Sree Narayana Mission, Washington, DC, NFIA - National Federation of Indian American Associations and Indian Embassy staff were present.
Photo:
Gandhi-Guru Day Declaration by Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansing at Gandhi Memorial in Washington, DC.
Officials and members of Sree Narayana World Council, Sree Narayana Mission, Washington, DC, NFIA - National Federation of Indian American Associations and Indian Embassy staff were present.
Sree Narayana World Council flag is handed over to Indukumar, Vice Chairman of SN Mission by Ambassador Lalit Mansing, to be taken to 3rd Global Convention in Cochin, India by world council officials, B. Aravindakshan, M N Jayarajan and K G Janardhanan.
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Contact: Sree Narayana World Council, E-mail: SNWCouncil@gmail.com
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