Students urged to save country at ABVP-organized Vivekotsava 2011

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 28: The Akhil Bharathiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) organized Vivekotsava 2011 to celebrate the birth anniversaries of Subhash Chandra Bose and Swamy Vivekananda at Town Hall on Jan 28, Friday. The chief speaker of the event, advocate Padmaprasad Hegde, said that he had learned to respect India and her national leaders as a member of the ABVP in his college days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recalling the incidents of 1990 when the members of the ABVP and other like-minded organizations went to Kashmir to hoist the Indian flag and were successful in doing so to a certain extent although the central government played spoilsport at the last minute, he asked political leaders if the country has really got its independence. Aug 14 should be observed as a Black Day because Kashmir was separated from the country on that day, he added.

Criticizing Indira Gandhi, he said that several leaders called Gandhi are in power at present. Informing the audience that Indira Gandhi is not a Gandhi by birth, but by marriage alone, he said that the leaders named Gandhi are not opposing the separation of Kashmir from India.

Speaking about the power of students, he said that students alone can save the country if they stand united. The central government will protect terrorists to please the members of their community, he said, adding that the ABVP does not want such ministers to rule the country. Speaking in favor of changing the country’s name from India to Bharath, he said that the word “India” reminds one of British slavery, but all Indians can be proud of the word “Bharath.”

Speaking about the humanitarian nature of Swami Vivekananda, Hegde said that Vivekananda was the only Indian who called Americans brothers and sisters. He remarked that if Rajiv Gandhi had followed the principles of Swami Vivekananda, we would have had a Sister Sonia like Sister Niveditha, and not a threat to the country.

C. N. Shankar Rao, sociology lecturer at Canara College, was the chief guest of the event. He said that even Subhash Chandra Bose was inspired by Swami Vivekananda, who could hold large audiences spell bound with his speeches. Quoting the famous poet Rabindranath Tagore, he said that anybody wishing to learn about India should first get acquainted with the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

Jithendra Kottary was also the chief guest of the event. Rajaram presided over the event, and Anil Kumar delivered the introductory address. Captain Ganesh Karnik, VHP District President Manohar Thulajaram, and Muralidhar Nayak, the lecturer of Mangalore University, were also present.

The invocation was rendered by Ashwini; the MC of the event was ABVP Taluk Convener Sujith; ACSU President Vikram delivered the welcome address; and Mahesh, the city secretary of ABVP, proposed the vote of thanks.

A huge procession from Jyothi Circle to Town Hall marked the beginning of the programme.