Pothencode: Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament Karu Jaya Surya presented the first
Navati Award instituted by Santhigiri Ashram to Padmasri Bharat Mammutty on
the occasion of 90 th birth anniversary of Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru. The
Navati Award function was inaugurated by former Kerala Chief Minister Sri
Oomman Chandy, who said that Mammutty is not only an accomplished actor but
also a person who has an open mind towards social realities.
Mammutty after receiving the Award said that Navajyoti Sri Karunakara Guru
always stood with the people and foresaw the necessities of society. Sri Mammutty
also inaugurated the Web site of Santhigiri Ashram in the function. On
thisoccasion, Sri Mammutty also cut the cake on his 65 th birth anniversary to the
applause of the huge gathering. ‘Guru and I are from the same village and we were
neighbors. However, I could hear and understand about Guru very late’,
Mammutty said.
The function was presided over by Sri Katakampally Ramachandran, the Minister
for Ports. The Chief Guest was Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice J.B.
Koshi. Dr. Varghese Kurien, business magnate, Janab Panakkad Muavarali Shihab
Thangal, Santhigiri Ashram Organizing Secretary Swami Gururetnam Jnana
Tapaswi, Swami Chaitanya Jnana Tapaswi, General Secretary of the Ashram, BJP
General Secretary Sri K.N. Radhakrishnan, NCP State President Uzhavur Vijayan
and several other dignitaries participated in the function.