Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 1 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that misleading and incorrect narratives were being peddled that North India has dominated South India over many issues.
Speaking at the 118th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. Sree Sree Sree Sivakumara Swamigalu at the Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru on Tuesday, Singh highlighted the significant contributions of the southern region in shaping the cultural and religious landscape of the North.
"It is unfortunate that some people are trying to prove that the North has dominated the South, which is completely wrong. The land of Karnataka itself is proof that the South has given a new direction to the North in matters of religion on many occasions," he said.
The comment comes after Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's recent editorial in a leading newspaper highlighting the central government's treatment of North and South states.
Substantiating his comment, Singh said the debate between Acharya Mandan Mishra of Kashi and Adi Shankaracharya is the most famous debate in Indian culture. It is a well-known fact that Shankaracharya defeated Mandan Mishra in that debate. But what happened to Mandan Mishra after that is known to very few people.
"Acharya Mandan Mishra became the disciple of Shankaracharya, and it is a popular belief that he came to Karnataka and became Shankaracharya in Shringeri as Acharya Suresharacharya. This means that the Indian tradition was very liberal regarding knowledge and did not hesitate at all in accepting the truth. Therefore, I believe that today there is a need to get rid of the propaganda done during the period of slavery to create differences," he said.
Highlighting the importance of Sanskrit, he said the importance of language can be understood from the fact that even today, it has an influence in many countries outside India. "The Mutt is promoting such a great language; this is praiseworthy in every respect," he said.
"Sanskrit means 'Polished' or 'Refined.' It is connected to words like culture, which means sanskar or civilization. No one should have any difficulty in understanding how great a language would be if its etymology is so great," he added.
"Many invaders tried to destroy Indian culture. But the saints of this country have kept their culture alive. It is due to saints like Maha Swami Ji that the culture has remained alive," Singh added.
"The value that Swami Ji has given to his followers as a Guru, of seeing God inside every human being, is the basis for maintaining the welfare and existence of humanity. There are many sects in India whose basis is the words of the Guru. The words which are true and eternal. Which have no beginning and no end," he said.
"I myself believe that the objective of any education system should not be limited to getting success in the 'Professional Field' only. In fact, the objective of education should also be character-building. If life is to be made successful and meaningful, then the education system will have to stand the test of ideals and values," he said.
"Just as every person or thing has some unique quality or the other, similarly the country also has its own character and identity. The character of India has always been of spirituality and service to humanity, and we have to always maintain this identity," he added. (ANI)