THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas today inaugurated the office complex at the upcoming digital museum featuring the life and message of Sree Narayana Guru at his native village of Chempazhanthy as part of the government’s efforts to highlight the legacy of the 20th-century social reformer.
Speaking at the function, the Minister said Sree Narayana Guru’s message of ‘mutual respect and tolerance” is of eternal relevance.
“When we look at the world, we can see that intolerance and lack of mutual trust has been the root cause of strife at all times. Keeping the Guru’s message in mind will help us overcome our petty ego and rid the society of all kinds of strife and disharmony,” Riyas said.
The office complex at the digital museum will serve as a facilitation centre which will serve pilgrims visiting the museum, being built at a budget of Rs 9 crore.
The museum, which is to be completed in a 8,000-sq.ft area, will throw light on the life of the Guru (1856-1928) and his teachings that profoundly influenced the transformation of Kerala into a modern society. The construction is being undertaken by the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society based in Vadakara of upstate Kozhikode. Already a convention centre worth Rs 9.90 crore has been constructed as part of projects totalling Rs 18.90 crore.
Today’s function in Chempazhanthy, seven km north of the state capital, was chaired by Kadakampally Surendran, MLA. Others present included Sree Narayana Gurukulam Secretary Sreemad Shubhangananda and civic body councillor Chembazhanthy Udayan.
Later in the evening, the Minister also inaugurated a Mandapam at the Panchami Temple at Pettah under the Tatwamasi Pilgrim Tourism project.
The mandapam, along with rest rooms was built at a cost of Rs 49.53 lakh with assistance from Steel Industrials Kerala Ltd.
Legislator Kadakampally Surendran, a former Tourism Minister, presided over the function at Panchami Temple as well. The event was addressed by Councillor P.K. Gopakumar, Travancore Devaswom Board Sthapathi Dr K. Muraleedharan Nair, Temple chief priest Tantri Prasanth G., Temple Committee President C.K. Surendran, Vice President V. Babu, Joint Secretary V Raveendran, Treasurer M. Radhakrishnan and Secretary K. Sasidharan.
