A program was conducted at the JSS Residential School, in Suttur, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi, Lalbahadur Shastry Jayanti and International Senior Citizens Day, organized under the auspices of JSS Educational Institutions, on October 2, 2024. Prof. B.H. Suresh, Retired professor from Mysuru, Sri U.N. Padmanabh, First Grade Contractor of Nanjangud, Sri S.P. Udayashankar, Administrative Officer, JSS Educational Institution, Suttur, heads of various departments of the JSS Residential School, Suttur, and others are seen in the picture.
October 3, 2024, Suttur: JSS Educational Institution, Suttur, organized a program on October 2, 2024, to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti, and International Senior Citizens Day. The event honored the legacies of these two national leaders while also highlighting the importance of senior citizens’ contributions to society.
In his keynote address, Chief Guest Prof. B.H. Suresh (Retd.) emphasized Mahatma Gandhi’s simple yet powerful character. He shared that Gandhi was deeply influenced by the play Harishchandra, which he saw as a child, and his mother’s values, both of which shaped his dedication to non-violence and compassion for the downtrodden. Prof. Suresh also spoke about Lal Bahadur Shastri, born into a humble family, who rose to become India’s Prime Minister. Shastri’s calm demeanor and decisive leadership during times of national crisis, such as the food shortage, was highlighted, with Prof. Suresh recalling how Shastri inspired citizens to fast for a day to alleviate the crisis.
Touching on the relevance of senior citizens, Prof. Suresh remarked, “At 60 years of age, many think life is over, but this is the time to bloom again. Senior citizens should remain engaged in society and stay active.”
Guest speaker Sri U.N. Padmanabharao, First Grade Contractor from Nanjangud, urged the older generation to instill the values of Mahatma Gandhi’s simplicity and Lal Bahadur Shastri’s patriotism in today’s youth. Another speaker, Sri Nanjudaiah, a devotee of the Suttur Srimath, echoed this sentiment, encouraging parents and teachers to share the inspiring stories of freedom fighters to nurture a sense of patriotism in children.
Sri S.P. Udayashankar, Administrative Officer of JSS Educational Institution, Suttur, presided over the event.
During the program, students of JSS High School and Primary School who excelled in the district-level Kabaddi tournament and were selected for the divisional-level competition were felicitated, along with their coaches. Additionally, Sri M. Vinod Kumar, a science teacher, was honored for securing a place in the state-level science exhibition with his innovative science model.
The event saw the presence of prominent figures, including Sri G.L. Tripurantaka, Sri Veerabhadraiah, Sri S. Shivaswamy, Dr. H.M. Mahesh, Sri G. Shivamallu, Sri M.G. Basavanna, Sri G.M. Shadakshari, Sri G. Shivaswamy, Sri Mahadevaprasad, and Smt. Susheela, along with senior citizens and school staff.
The program commenced with an invocation by the students. Dr. B.N. Jnanesh welcomed the gathering, Smt. H.V. Divya served as the master of ceremonies, and Dr. G.M. Vinay concluded the event with a vote of thanks.