KOLLAM: Compassionate hearts are disappearing before our eyes and if we can awaken it even in hearts long closed, the entire world can be transformed into heaven, Mata Amritanandamayi said in her birthday message at Amritapuri on Tuesday. Addressing lakhs of devotees and guests, on the occasion of her 58th birthday celebrations, Mata said that at a time when the mindless activities of human beings were seeing the extinction of birds and animals, drying up of rivers and disappearance of forests, the ‘extinction of compassionate people’ was even more dangerous. Amma said that even while she was taking part in the birthday celebrations with her devotees, her heart was weeping for the state of the world today. Referring to the cruelties meted out to women and children, suicides, fatal accidents, terrorism and greed for money, all of which are on the increase in Kerala, she said: “If Kerala is to save itself from the present situation, it must free itself from the three Ls- Liquor, Lust and Love for money. These are three forms of madness.” She said that incidents in Kerala testimonies that men were no longer protectors of women, but were only hungry for their flesh. “They are more focused on serving liquor,” she said referring to how people destroy themselves and lead the families into misery due to alcoholism. “Incidents rarely heard in the west, take place here every day. Should we, who are supposed to be so intelligent and educated, fall so low?” she asked the devotees.HUMANITARIAN WORKS LAUNCHEDThe highlight of the celebrations was the launch of numerous humanitarian initiatives in the areas of health, education and social welfare. Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan inaugurated ‘Amrita Santhwanam Home Nursing Training Programme.’ He said that the project envisages the training 10,000 home nurses, who would provide care to the old and sick left alone by their children. He said that it was unique and a testimony to the love of Mata towards humanity. Speaking at the function Union Minister for Science and Technology, Vilasrao Deshmukh, lauded the efforts of Amritanandamayi during the time of disasters and to improve the lot of farmers. He launched the Amrita University’s online education programme, “Free All Indian Tuition Programme,” supported by the Ministry of Human Resources Development. The ‘Vidyamritam’ scholarships started by Mata, in the wake of increasing farmer suicides, a few years ago was extended to benefit 5,000 students more. The extension of the scholarship, which covers around 32,000 students in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, was announced by Deshmukh. Union Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal presented the cheques and scholarships to the beneficiaries of ‘Amrita Suraksha’ insurance programme. Sankaranarayanan presented the ‘Amrita keerti Puraskar’ to M P Veerendrakumar, Managing Director of Mathrubhumi on the occasion. Kollam MP, N Peethambara Kurup distributed the ‘Amrita Nidhi’ lifetime pension to new beneficiaries.Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostum released the book ‘Amma’s Advice’ and the first copy was received by MP from Andaman Islands, Vishnupada Ray.
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