Sree Narayana Guru Gave New Direction to Underprivileged People’s Struggles for Rights, Says Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Sree Narayana Guru was a key figure who laid the foundation for a renaissance in Keralam, said Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan.

Guru was a beacon of the social renaissance who spread the light of knowledge and humanity in a society overshadowed by caste discrimination and social evils. By declaring that humanity is the only caste of human beings, he became a driving force behind Keralam's renaissance, Pinarayi Vijayan said in a message marking Sree Narayana Guru's Samadhi Day.

Pinarayi Vijayan said Guru challenged the dominance of upper-caste priesthood through the installation of a Shiva idol at Aruvippuram.

Sree Narayana Guru gave a new direction to the struggles for the rights of oppressed communities. He also helped lead marginalised sections towards social and economic advancement. By guiding people who had been confined to traditional hereditary occupations towards industries and new areas of employment, Guru paved the way for self-reliance.

Guru's words and actions were powerful enough to shake the caste-based foundations of Keralam's social system. His vision, which laid the foundation for building a caste-free and secular society, remains a guiding light, Pinarayi Vijayan said.

The memory of Sree Narayana Guru will continue to inspire the journey towards a better future based on equality, he added.