Mysuru: Sri Vanamali Charitable Trust had organised a function at Ganabharathi Veene Seshanna Bhavan in Kuvempunagar here yesterday where ‘Sri Vanamali Samskruti Seva Award’ was conferred on senior writer Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah and ‘Padmasri Dr. Mathoor Krishnamurthy Samaja Seva Award’ was conferred on Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) Founder Dr. R. Balasubramaniam. The awards were presented by senior scholar Dr. T.V. Venkatachala Sastry.

Speaking on the occasion, Nagarajaiah said that soul was the light of a person which should never be allowed to get extinguished. He opined that introspection was essential for a person to get reformed which in turn would help to reform the society.

Citing an example, Nagarajaiah said that in 1864 when US President Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert once lost his balance and fell on a track, he (Robert) was lifted by a person. When Robert went to thank the good Samaritan, it was learnt that the person was a great actor. Unfortunately, the actor’s brother for some reason assassinated Abraham Lincoln.

Immediately after that, the great actor was being referred as Abraham Killer’s brother leaving behind the achievements of the actor, regretted Nagarajaiah saying that people recognise good artistes or achievers through a negative angle.

Continuing, Nagarajaiah contended that many important facts could be understood through life. He said that knowledge can be acquired partially through teachers and partially through common sense. However, what is learnt through society and life is unparalleled. Learning from all the four sources would make a person perfect, he said.

Wisdom deciphered

“A person without wisdom is like a ladle in a vessel of curry as the taste of curry could be appreciated only by the tongue and not the ladle. Similarly irrespective of acquiring any knowledge or degrees like MA and Ph.D or awards like Padmasri, knowledge fails without wisdom,” explained Nagarajaiah.

Referring to an incident, Nagarajaiah said “A student in an Ashram asked the Guru the source of light which the latter says is Sun. The student asks the source if Sun was not there. The Guru says that the source could be then Moon or Star or Fire and if none is available, from the Soul which should be understood to lead a life.”

If a stone is shaped like an idol of a deity, everyone worships. The same stone laid for steps would be climbed with footwear on, said Nagarajaiah recalling the good advice of his teachers. He also shared his experiences abroad.

Referring to the media hyping on MeToo movement, Nagarajaiah opined that the media should focus more on cultural programmes and constructive topics to motivate the youth.

Writer Dr. N.S. Taranath and GRAM Executive Director R. Basavaraj spoke on the award winners. On the occasion, book ‘Sumananjali’ in memory of the Trust’s Founder-Secretary late Sumana Vishwanath was also released by Dr. T.V. Venkatachala Sastry.

The good Samaritan Ayub Hamid, who performs final rites of unclaimed bodies, was felicitated on the occasion. Trust President K. Sundara Raj, scholar Maddur Chandrashekhar and others were present.