New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed contributions of saint and social reformer Narayana Guru for his fight against caste based discrimination and emphasised that "as Indians we have only one caste - Bhartiyata".
He was attending the inaugural ceremony of year-long joint celebrations of 90th anniversary of Sivagiri Pilgrimage and Golden Jubilee of Brahma Vidhyalaya.
"As Indians, we have only one caste - Bhartiyata. We have only one religion - dhrama of service and duty. We have only one God - Mother India. Shri Narayan Guru's exhortation of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God' gives a spiritual dimension to our patriotism," he said.
Sivagiri Pilgrimage is held every year for three days from December 30 to January 1 at Sivagiri, Thiruvananthapuram. The Prime Minister said Narayana Guru talked of modernity but he also enriched Indian culture and values.
"He talked of education and science but never shied away from raising the glory of the dhrama, faith and thousand years old tradition of India. Shri Narayan Guru campaigned against stereotypes and evils and made India aware of its reality," he said. (UNI)