New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders remembered Guru Ravidas, a poet-saint of the Bhakti Movement whose work critiqued the caste system, and his teachings on his birth anniversary and extended greetings to the countrymen.
President Murmu took to Twitter and said, "Best wishes to all the countrymen on Guru Ravidas Jayanti. Saint Ravidas, who considered labour as God, had imagined the upliftment of all and an egalitarian society free from caste-religion discrimination. It is my wish that all the countrymen should imbibe his teachings of social harmony in their lives."
Remembering Guru Ravidas' messages, Prime Minister Modi said, "While paying tributes Sant Ravidas ji on his birth anniversary, we remember his great messages. On this occasion, we reiterate our resolve for a just, harmonious and prosperous society in line with his vision. Following his path, we are serving and empowering the poor through various initiatives."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also greeted the nation on this occasion, "Sant Ravidas Ji taught morality and decency to every person of the society with equal rights. I pay tributes to Saint Shri Ravidas ji on his birth anniversary, who guided crores of people with his creations and thoughts and best wishes to all on Ravidas Jayanti."
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday called on the people of the state to follow the path shown by Guru Ravidas to rid the society of various maladies, an official statement said, reported PTI. He said that his government is following in the footsteps of Guru Ravidas to create an egalitarian society.
Mann was addressing a gathering before flagging off a 'Shobha Yatra' to mark the 'Parkash Utsav' of Guru Ravidas.
"The teachings of Guru Ravidas are a lighthouse for the entire humanity. Guru Ravidas ji had shown the path of humanity to the entire world. These teachings can play a pivotal role in emancipating the society from the various problems facing it," PTI quoted him as saying.
He said that following in the footsteps of Guru Ravidas, the state government is making strenuous efforts for carving out an egalitarian society and giving top priority to the education and health sectors.
Mann further said, "Poverty can be eradicated only by providing quality education to the students. The focus of this government is to ensure that the youth become job givers instead of job seekers." Targeting the previous state governments, the chief minister said they "mercilessly looted" the people for their vested political interests.