Mysore/Mysuru: Actor Shivarajkumar inaugurated a Summer Camp for children organised at Shaktidhama yesterday by lighting a lamp and also by playing folklore instruments.

Speaking on the occasion, Shivarajkumar said that education is important to everybody and everyone must study and gain knowledge. “Children should mingle freely to learn, play and grow. The children of the surrounding areas should come to the summer camp and freely interact and play with the children of Shaktidhama, which is providing a platform for children to learn and enjoy learning new things during the camp here and also have entertainment,” he added.

Stating that there should be no discrimination between the rich and the poor, Shivarajkumar observed that “We should remember that we are all human beings and should be nice to each other. My wife Geetha is more educated than me and she is serving as the President of Shaktidhama and I am supporting her. All the children of Shaktidhama are like my children and I have an opportunity to serve them. I am visiting Shaktidhama more often after my mother’s death. Since I come from a joint family, I enjoy the company of these children,” he added.

Shaktidhama Managing Trustee G.S. Jayadev, who spoke on the occasion, advised students to learn to be silent in addition to learn the art of speaking.

He also thanked Sharif, Gopalakrishna, Anand, Krishna, Munigopalaraju, Sadananda, Chetan Prakash and others for their cooperation in the day to day functioning of Shaktidhama and felicitated all of them.

Children of the summer camp sang the folk song ‘Ilidu Baarammayya Ilidu Baare Bettada Chamundi Ilidu Baare…’ which they learnt within a few hours and won appreciation. Dancer Apoorva presented Pushpanjali through Bharatanatyam. Artist Shivakumar presented a painting of Puneeth Rajkumar painted during the camp to Shivarajkumar.

Shaktidhama Education Administrator Manjula, Vice-President and retd. IPS Officer Kempaiah, Treasurer M.N. Sumana, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Santrupti, Sanchalana Mysore President and Camp Director Deepak and others were present.

All the guests including actor Shivarajkumar were accorded a warm welcome with a procession of folk troupes  from Shaktidhama gate to venue of the programme. Also, lamps were lit all through the path of the procession.

Camp Convenor Deepak introduced the clay pot makers and bamboo weavers, who had come to the camp to impart training.