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TAMPA, Fl (May 4, 2006) – The Hindu
American Foundation (HAF) congratulated Hindu spiritual leader
Sri Shivamurthy Murugharajendra Swami for being awarded the
prestigious B.R. Ambedkar Award by the State of Karnataka,
India. He was honored in recognition of his contributions
in the upliftment of members of the Scheduled Castes (referred
to by some as “Harijans” or “untouchables”)
in India. The Swami was one of eight honorees to be given
the award, which was presented on April 14, 2006 by the Chief
Minister of Karnataka, H.D. Kumaraswamy, at a function celebrating
the 115th birth anniversary B.R. Ambedkar.
The award commemorates the life of B.R. Ambedkar,
one of the greatest Indian leaders of the 20th century and
a member of the Scheduled Castes. Educated at Columbia University,
Ambedkar, known affectionately as ‘Babasaheb’,
was at the forefront of the movement advocating greater rights
for Untouchables beginning in the 1920s. He was also active
in the Indian independence movement and played a central role
in the framing of the Indian Constitution.
“It is refreshing to see Hindu spiritual
leaders taking an active role in social reform, especially
related to casteism,” said Swaminathan Venkataraman,
member of the Hindu American Foundation Executive Council.
“Sri Shivamurthy Murugharajendra Swami is a worthy nominee
for his inspiring efforts to gain social equality for India’s
downtrodden.”
Sri Shivamurthy Murugharajendra Swami is
the pontiff of the Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra Math (religious
center) located in Chitradurga, Karnataka. The center, with
branches throughout the south Indian states of Karnataka,
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, follows the Lingayat
(Veerashaiva) tradition of the renowned 12th century social
reformer Sri Basaveshwara who was committed to the elimination
of discrimination based on caste, class and gender.
The Swami has organized and provided spiritual
and social leadership to Scheduled Castes in South India.
He has initiated thousands into the Veerashaiva sect besides
anointing a priest belonging to a Scheduled Caste as the head
of a major Hindu institution. He has also pressured the Government
to implement irrigation projects in draught-prone areas, many
of which are home to members of the depressed castes.
“Other Hindu sects and sampradayas
should follow Sri Shivamurthy Murugharajendra Swami-ji’s
example to actively work towards religious and spiritual equality
for all Hindus,” urged Pawan Deshpande, a member of
the Hindu American Foundation Executive Council. “True
religious parity and economic upliftment of the Scheduled
Castes are an imperative for the future of Hindu society in
India.”
The Hindu American Foundation is a non-profit
501(c)(3), non-partisan organization, promoting the Hindu
and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism.
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