The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today said that Sri Ramanujacharya’s teachings of ‘equality for all, welfare of all’ must become the guiding light in the endeavour to build a ‘New India’. He suggested that ‘we must strive to build a more egalitarian and equitable post-pandemic economic order in line with the teachings of Bhagavad Ramanuja.’

Calling upon the youth to take inspiration from Sri Ramanujacharya’s life, the Vice President said they must become key partners in building a society free of discrimination. ‘Let us rededicate ourselves to follow the path shown by Sri Ramanujacharya and strive to alleviate the suffering of humanity by following the great Sage’s dictum - ‘Serve All Beings as Service to God’’, he added.

Shri Naidu visited the ‘Statue of Equality’ in Hyderabad - a 216-feet tall statue of the 11th century Bhakti saint Sri Ramanujacharya, who promoted the idea of equality before God and engendered many social reforms in his time.

Praising Sri Ramanujacharya for his untiring efforts to end the disparities of caste, class and gender, Shri Naidu said that even though the saint had lived over a thousand years ago, his vision for peace and harmony remains eternally relevant. He observed that his philosophy of Vishistadwaita argued that there is “no room for discriminating against people on the basis of caste and community.”

The Vice President noted that Sri Ramanujacharya, through his message of Bhakti and love unified Indian society and nation. “With his great wisdom, sagacity and foresight, he synthesised seemingly opposite thoughts of Jnana and Bhakti, Dvaita and Advaita. As a social reformer and a spiritual leader, he left an indelible mark on society”, Shri Naidu observed.

Highlighting schemes of the government such as the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, rural sanitation and other initiatives, Shri Naidu said that all these programs are inspired by the philosophy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas' which resonates with Sri Ramanujacharya’s teachings.

Referring to Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Shri Naidu said that the need of the hour is to change the mindset of people and ensure that no girl is discriminated against. Noting the ‘encouraging trend’ of improved Sex Ratio at Birth by 19 points at National level from 2014-2021, the Vice President urged people to ‘join the campaign for gender equality and turn it into a mass movement’.

On the occasion, Shri Naidu appreciated the efforts of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami of Sri Ramanujacharya Ashram in conceptualising the statue and all those involved in the project. 

Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Governor of Haryana, Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, Shri Ashwini Choubey, Union Minister of State, Shri Mohammed Mahmood Ali, Minister for Home, Telangana, Sri Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swami, Dr. J. Rameswar Rao, Main Trustee, Shri Chiranjeevi, film actor, Shri K.V. Chowdary, President, Divya Saketham, Shri G.V. Bhaskar Rao, President, SRSB (Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi) and others were present on the occasion.

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MS/RK