THE Maharshi Dayananda Gurukula Guyana Chapter hosted a graduation ceremony for its 12th annual Gurukula camp at the Shri Krishna Dharmic Mandir in Parika, East Bank Essequibo last Sunday. 125 young males and females graduated from the seven-day camp with fairly extensive, accurate knowledge of the tenets of Hinduism. Their daily routine included waking up at 5 am for physical exercise, lectures, studies and debates. At the end of the session, they had to take an assessment test.
According to Pandit Satish Prakash, who is responsible for establishing the Maharshi Dayananda Gurukula, the camp was held after a two-month-long missionary tour to select young people from all over Guyana to participate in the camp. Lectures were focused on eliminating from among humanity the scourges of alcoholism, broken homes and domestic violence.
The students are now expected to impart unto all the things they were taught at the camp.
Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul delivered the feature address at the ceremony. He praised Pandit Satish for his efforts in this area, and noted that young people are Guyana’s richest resources.
He encouraged the graduates to aspire for great things, telling them a little about the hardships he had encountered during his childhood days. “If I could have done it, all of you have the potential,” he said.
He spoke of how young people focus on achieving material things, and urged that they do so the honest way.
Minister Gopaul also urged the young leaders to spread the message that people must go along the right path, and do good for themselves and others. He advised them to keep in mind that their accomplishment was not only due to their efforts, but was rather a collective effort of many persons, including Pandit Satish and their parents.
Present at the ceremony was President of the Arya Samaj Federation, Vishnu Bandhu, who is also Head of the United Federation for Arts and Culture.
Bandhu reminded his audience of the power of prayer, noting that the United Federation for Arts and Culture recently hosted a National Day of Prayer for the country.
The organization is also undertaking a signatory campaign to shut down bars at weddings, and Bandhu asked the young students to come on board and support that worthy cause.