Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD)

Mangalore, Sep 10: "No religion in the world preaches anybody to do bad things. But immoral things, suicide, rape etc are happening in our country because we are forgetting our moral values. No one should have hatred for someone. A human being should always have sympathy towards others," said R V Deshpande, state minister for tourism and higher education here on Tuesday Semptember 9.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating 'Prajna' value orientation programme organized for college lecturers by Ramakrishna Math, Mangaladevi here.

He added, "Teachers are the guiding lights to the students. It is very important that teacher should teach from his heart and not from the book. The student-teacher relationship has become commercial now. Teachers are creating machines, not human beings as there are no moral values in the education."

He also said that teachers were the leaders sent to the world by God.

"The present generation is not balanced and we have to blame ourselves for this. In this competitive world we will remembered only by our profession and standard," he added.

Talking about Swami Vivekananda, India's youth icon, Deshpande said, "The thoughts, aspirations, expectations and preachings of Swami Vivekananda are relevant now than it was in the past. Youths are inspired by him."

He said that India would be a super power country in future and added that the teachers should lead the youths.

Professor K Byrappa, vice chancellor of Mangalore University, Mangala Gangotri said that the teachers were the ones who wrote the future of the country.

"Our Indian culture is such that we give first preference to others. Before teaching moral values, a teacher himself should have the moral values," he said.

He also said that the teachers should have five D's in life- Dedication, Direction, Determination, Devotion and Decision.

"A child starts his education from home. Mother is the first teacher of every child," he added.

Swami Muktidanandaji Maharaj, trustee, Ramakrishna Math and president of Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore, in his key note address said, "Education is the ultimate solution for life. Teachers have a big role to play, as every teacher is immuned with right knowledge, filled with right values."

"Teachers can influence the minds of students. A teacher has to be an intellectual leader, that is how teacher can set the mind of the student. A teacher should be the transmitter of higher values. Teachers should see to it that the students get the social oriented education; this was Swami Vivekananda's dream," he added.

'Cultural Heritage of India' an encyclopedia of India by Ramakirshna Mission, Delhi was gifted to R V Deshpande and professor K Byrappa. Mementos were given to the guests.

Swami Jitakamanandaji Maharaj, president of Ramakrishna Math welcomed the guests. Radhakrishna K proposed the vote of thanks.

Swami Sarvapriyanandaji, Dr S Viswanath, professor K Raghothama Rao, MLA J R Lobo and others were present on the occasion.