Guru’s Foresight Brought Me to Santhigiri from the Modesty of Santhi Niketan: West Bengal Governor

Pothencode (Thiruvananthapuram): Dr. C.V Ananda Bose, the Governor of West Bengal said that Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru’s concept of transcendental spirituality is the beginning of a great renaissance. He was speaking inaugurating the 24th Nava Oli Jyotir Dinam celebrations at Santhigiri Ashram. Even a journey of a thousand years begins with a small step. The first step of the Renaissance in the modern day was initiated by the Guru of Santhigiri. That is no small thing, the Governor said. The purpose of the Guru was to guide the people to the path of truth. The Guru taught the world that instead of lecturing on spirituality, one should first give food to the poor.

The biggest value distortion in India today is the lack of importance given to the institution of the family. We are blindly imitating the Western culture ignoring our traditional values in the illusion that the ‘West is Best’. The Guru understood that the world’s welfare is possible only if a fundamental change is made at these three levels: family, individual, and society. That is why the Guru focussed on family life and worked hard for it and succeeded in that, the Governor added.

The Governor began his speech by quoting the lines of Vallathol. He said that it was the Guru’s foresight that he reached Santhigiri as a humble person from Santiniketan. He concluded the speech by sharing great ideas through anecdotes, mythological stories, and biblical stories invoking the greatness of mother’s love.

Ashram President Swami Chaitanya Jnana Thapasvi presided over the function. General Secretary Swami Gururatnam Jnana Thapasvi, Manickal Grama Panchayat President K. Jayan, Welfare and Development Standing Committee Chairperson R. Saheerat Beevi, and Sindooram Charities Chairman Sabir Thirumala spoke in the Meeting.