President, PM greet nation on eve of Ravidas Jayanti

President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday greeted the citizens on the eve of Guru Ravidas' birth anniversary, lauding the social reformer's struggle for equality and tolerance in society. "On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidasji, a great saint and religious reformer, the nation recalls with pride his ceaseless struggle to eradicate the evils of casteism and establish a classless society," said the president in his message. "Guru Ravidasji led a life of faith and devotion and considered service to man as service to God. He espoused the cause of the downtrodden and worked untiringly to establish peace, harmony and brotherhood in society. May his teachings of love, compassion, tolerance and equality, inspire us to lead a life of service to humanity," Mukherjee added. The prime minister said that Guru Ravidas was a great humanist and social reformer who dedicated his life to spreading the values of equality, universal brotherhood, and tolerance.