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Karnataka’s seer, a messiah for poor, needy (Obituary)
Bengaluru, Jan 21 (IANS) Shivakumara Swami, the 111-year-old seer of the Siddaganga Mutt at Tumakuru near Bengaluru, was a popular and religious leader of the Lingayat community in Karnataka who served the poor and the needy for over eight decades.
The Swami, who passed away on Monday at the Mutt, about 70 km northwest of Bengaluru, due to old age-related illness, was known for pioneering education for thousands of boys and girls, with free boarding and lodging in the southern state and imparting the teachings of the 12th century social reformer-cum-Kannda poet Basavanna to one and all.
“As head of the Siddaganga Education Society, Swamiji was the guiding light and spirit of about 130 schools and colleges in towns and villages, with free food and accommodation every year for about 9,000 poor children irrespective of caste, creed or social background,” a Mutt official told IANS.
Taking education to towns and villages across the state despite resource constraints, the Swami won the hearts of the people from all walks of life who donated generously for the cause of the poor, which was dear to his heart.
The Mutt runs colleges for pre-university, degree and professional courses like engineering and medicine, besides primary, middle and high schools where about 50,000 students join and pass out annually.
To keep alive and sustain the country’s most ancient language, the seer had also set up branches of the Sanskrit class in the Mutt in the Society’s schools.
Unlike other educational societies, Swami’s approach to education is holistic, with stress on practical learning from experience than limiting to theory and knowledge.
Born on April 1, 1907 at Veerapura Magdi hamlet in Bengaluru Rural district, Swami studied in state-run schools and colleges and graduated in Arts in 1920.
Succeeding his guru Uddana in the 1940s, a decade after he was initiated into the holy order in 1930, the young Swami brought about a revolution in education in the state by opening and building schools and colleges and encouraging students to take to sports and extra-curricular activities.
“At his centenary felicitation in 2007, a modest Swami told a gathering that he was carrying by God’s will and blessings the work his gurus started long ago,” recalled the official of the 600-year-old Lingayat Mutt.
In recognition of his yeomen service in the educational and religious fields, Karnataka University conferred him the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature in 1965 at Dharwad in the state’s northwest region.
Late President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who visited the Mutt in April 2007 for the Swami’s centenary celebrations, said Shivakumara was an example of spreading the message of “giving”.
“Swami has been on a mission of socio-economic development and eradication of inequalities in education. He saw education and alleviation of hunger as an effective means to enrich human capacity,” said Kalam on May 10, 2007 in Parliament.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
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