Rama Krishna Sangem
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s over three hour long visit to Muchintal, on the outskirts of Hyderabad where Vaishnavite guru Sri Ramanujacharya, who founded “Vishistaadwaita” school of philosophy 1,000 years ago is expected to boost the prospects of BJP in the poll bound Uttar Pradesh. Modi unveiled a 216 ft tall statue of Sri Ramanuja, called the Statue of Equality and participated in elaborate Yagnam rites.
PM Modi who made a eight hour tour to Hyderabad on February 5, Saturday, from 1.45 pm to 9.45 pm, spent most time at Sri Rmana Nagaram, ashram of Sri Tridandi China Jeeyar swamy who now represents the legacy of Ramanuja, a millennium back.
The PM earlier attended a programme to mark the 50 years of ICRISAT (International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics) another side of the city. But going by the importance of his attire and devotion, Modi unmistakably attached greater significance to the Ramanuja statue inauguration and the Vedic rituals arranged there on the occasion.
Notably, Sri Jeeyar swamy spoke in chaste Hindi, conveying message to the UP and other northern belt states, eulogising Modi and his leadership. “Like Sri Ramanuja, who propagated the concept of equality among humans, our beloved PM too given us the slogan of “Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas, aur Sab Ka Viswas,” said Jeeyar, much to the delight of the audience of 1,000 people there.
Modi spoke in Hindi too and an audio visual presentation coupled with a laser show on Sri Ramanuja too was in the national language, apparently aimed at the UP voters. CM KCR absented from the PM’s visit, as an apparent mark of protest against the ill-treatment to Telangana at the hands of the Centre, though sources mentioned “mild fever” as the reason for his absence.
Modi recently participated in two major religious events in UP – dedicating renovated Vishwanath temple corridor in Varanasi and commencement of construction of Sri Ram temple at Ayodhya. But, this event to commemorate the 1000th birth anniversary of Sri Ramanuja is unique as it happened in a state where there are no elections. This shows Modi’s conviction rather than convenience.
Good analysis