Mangaluru: It has been more than six decades now since Mahatma Gandhi has been offered puja, like any other god in temples, at the Brahma Baidarkala Garodi at Kankanady.

A statue of Gandhi, made of clay, was set up at the Garodi on December 15, 1948. It was replaced with a white marble statue in 2011.

According to Sandeep, a staff at the garodi, puja was offered to the statue at 6 a.m., 11.30 a.m. and 7.30 p.m. daily.

Every year, there will be special puja on October 2 and usual puja on Independence Day.

He said that the statue was set up because the governing council members of the garodi were his staunch followers.

Narasappa Saliyan and Soma Pandit set up the statue sponsored by Venkappa, he said.

A lamp is lit every day and puja offered. “Gandhiji at the garodi has its own devotees,” he said.

Parliament has been converted into an arena of combat rather than debate, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday observing that institutions of democracy are under stress and “correctives must come from within”.

In comments that come against the backdrop of a washed out Monsoon session of Parliament, he said, “If the institutions of democracy are under pressure, it is time for serious thinking by people and their parties”.

Addressing the nation on the eve of 69th Independence Day, Mr. Mukherjee expressed concern over the apparent fractious politics and Parliament when he said “the roots (of vibrant democracy) are deep but the leaves are beginning to wilt. It is time for renewal.

“If we do not act now, will our successors seven decades hence remember us with the respect and admiration we have for those who shaped the Indian dream in 1947? The answer may not be comfortable but the question has to be asked.”

Asserting that the most precious gift of the Constitution is democracy, the President said, “Our institutions are the infrastructure of this idealism. The finest inheritance needs constant care for preservation.

“Our institutions of democracy are under stress. The Parliament has been converted into an arena of combat rather than debate.”

Referring to social harmony, Mr. Mukherjee said Indian democracy is “creative” because it is plural but diversity must be nourished with tolerance and patience.

“Vested interests chip away at social harmony, in an attempt to erode many centuries of secularism. In an age of instant communication through ever-improving technology, we must remain vigilant to ensure that the devious designs of a few never overcome the essential oneness of our people.”

He said the rule of law is sacrosanct for both government and people but society is also protected by something greater than law — humanity.

Quotes of Mahatma

He quoted Mahatma Gandhi “you must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty”.

The President said a great generation of supreme heroes faced formidable challenge when ideals and convictions that had held through the travails of an epic struggle against British rule were under strain.

“The sagacity and maturity of that generation saved our ideals from deviation or degeneration under the pressure of emotion, including rage,” he said.

While stating that the country’s rise will be measured by the strength of the values, the President also said it will equally be determined by economic growth and equitable distribution of the nation’s resources.

Economic growth rate

Mr. Mukherjee said it is most heartening that despite a dip in last one decade, the growth rate has been recovered to 7.3 per cent in 2014-15 but said the benefits of growth must reach the poorest of the poor much before they land in the bank accounts of the richest of the rich.

“We are an inclusive democracy, and an inclusive economy; there is place for everyone in the hierarchy of wealth. But the first call goes to those who suffer on the brink of deprivation. Our policies must be geared to meet the ‘Zero Hunger’ challenge in a foreseeable future,” he said.

“Our economy promises much hope for the future. The new chapters of the ‘India Story’ are waiting to be written. ‘Economic reforms’ is a work-in-progress,” the President said.

Recalls guru-shishya parampara

The President said a nation which forgets the idealism of its past loses something vital from its future. Our educational institutions multiply as the aspirations of generations continue to exceed supply.

“But what has happened to quality, from base to apex? We recall the guru-shishya parampara with legitimate pride; why then have we abandoned the care, devotion and commitment that is at the heart of this relationship? A guru much like the soft and skillful hands of a potter, moulds the destiny of shishya.

“The student with devotion and humility acknowledges the debt of the teacher. Society respects and recognises the merit and scholarship of the teacher. Is that happening in our education system today? Students, teachers and authorities must pause and introspect,” he said.

On environmental degradation

Referring to concerns over environmental degradation, Mr. Mukherjee said the symbiotic relationship between man and nature has to be preserved.

“A generous nature when violated can turn into a destructive force leading to calamities resulting in huge loss of life and property.

“Even as I speak, large parts of the nation are barely recovering from floods. We need immediate relief for the afflicted as well as long-term solutions for the management of both, water deficiency and excess,” he said.

Karkala: MLA of Karkala Sunil Kumar launched a new album Kala ko Salaam in his Vikasa office on Friday.

The makers of the video Rakshit K.M. Kaushik Kini, Bola Prasad Kamat, Ramu Karkala were present.

Bengaluru: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said people of the state have deep emotional connect with residents of Marathi-speaking areas in adjoining Karnataka and their fight for a merger will continue till the goal is achieved.

Karnataka and Maharashtra are locked in a decades-long boundary dispute with people from Marathi-speaking areas of Belgaum, Karwar and nearby villages demanding that they be made part of the western state on linguistic ground.

Karnataka is vehemently opposed to the merger demand, which has led to agitations in the past with some of them turning violent.

"The emotional strength of 12 crore Maharashtrians is with their brethren on the Karnataka border fighting to be part of this state. We will get justice," Fadnavis said.

He was speaking after conferring this year's Acharya Atre Award, instituted by the Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, to 'Tarun Bharat' Editor Kiran Thakur, whose paper has been consistently highlighting the merger issues.

"For the past so many years, we have been asked as to how long the agitations will last... to which we have a simple answer... they will last till the Marathi-speaking areas along the Maharashtra-Karnataka border are merged with the state," the Chief Minister said.

He further claimed that Maharashtra has never committed atrocities in the name of language but the same cannot be said about the southern state.

"There would never be atrocities against linguistic minorities in Maharashtra like what has been seen in Karnataka in respect to Marathi-speaking people," he claimed.

"The (boundary) dispute is now in Supreme Court. But, in people's court, we have people like Thakur to fight our case," he said, assuring of his government's support to the "cause of Marathi-speaking people of Karnataka".