Mangaluru: The National-level Bunts convention was inaugurated at the Town Hall here on February 6. Prior to the inauguration, a procession was held from Mangalore University college.
The programme began with an invocation. Vasanth Shetty welcomed the gathering. The programme was inaugurated by Dr Veerendra Heggade by lighting the traditional lamp along with other dignitaries on the dais.
Chairman of International Bunts Welfare Association Sadananda Shetty delivered the keynote address. He thanked Dr Heggade for accepting the invitation. He also said that Bunts have brought laurels to the community and country. Be it in the field of education, business or any other fields. When we do good to the society we will prosper, through the association we are striving hard for the welfare of the bunt community, he added.
Addressing the gathering Dr Veerendra Heggade said that Bunts and the Jain community are together in agriculture, education, business, politics, social and in all the fields. When the Bunt community changed their food habits, the Jain community separated from Bunt Community.
Dr Heggade further said, “Leadership inherently in its blood. I thought of making a list of the Bunt community involved in various fields, but I was unable to do it. Then I thought to make a list, in which the Bunt community is not involved. The Bunt community has the determination to achieve their goals. People of Bunt community are involved in every field. If you go anywhere in the world you will find people belonging to the Bunt community. In any organization, people of the Bunt community have taken leadership because they perform their duty with perfection.
The Bunt community mostly depends on Agriculture, they are ready to sacrifice their life to protect their village and their Dharma. They are very brave people. The Bunt community has brought a revolution in education, medical field and business. It is very difficult to run educational institutions, but bunts have brought name and fame to their community. We should have intelligence, enthusiasm and determination, face challenges and take risks with fear of God to achieve our goals.
In Bunt community there are a lot of changes now, earlier dowry was rampant but now educating the girl child is wealth. The Bunt youth have understood the importance of education and the Bunt girls are well educated. Even the Bunt women are good leaders and they have also brought laurels to the society. We fear that our youth are attracted towards westernization. Let the youth accept the change in other countries, let them wear western attire but let them be Indian. If the present youth will retain the culture and tradition our future generations will continue our tradition and culture. He urged the Bunt community to teach their children the culture and tradition and pass it on to the next generation.
Dr Heggade also said, “The Bunt community always had leadership inherently in its blood. The Bunt community members always mingle with others and maintain good relationship. It has also effectively harnessed the leadership qualities for the benefit of the society. Bunt community is spread around the world, they have brought laurels to the community with their remarkable service to the society”.
Odiyoor Sri Gurudevananda Swamiji of Gurudevedatta Samstan, speaking on the occasion said, “The Bunt community members go well with others and have good relationship. These qualities have made them good leaders in the society bringing all round development”.
A magazine “Sadashaya” was released by the chancellor of Nitte university Dr N Vinay Hegde on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Vinay Hegde said, “Now a days when we watch TV we see a number of women being harassed, but I don’t agree with it. I believe that women are the main persons behind the success of every successful man”. He also advised the youth not to forget the culture and tradition of our country. It is not wrong to adopt to westernization but we need to be an example to the world with our culture and tradition”.
Rajashekarananda Swamji of Vajradehi Math, Sri Sri sriVidyavachaspati Dr Vishwa Santosh Bharati of Barkur Bunts Mahasamsthana also spoke on the occasion. Author Dr D K Chowta delivered the presidential address.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, A J Shetty, Prakash Shetty, Erya Laxminarayan Alva, SarvothamShetty, Prakash Rai, Sundar Shetty, Amarnath Shetty, Gurukiran Shetty and others were also present.
