Due to factors like apparent lack of interest shown by the local residents of Joshimath, the Jyotirpeeth felicitation programme is appearing to be a low-key affair as seen at the felicitation.
During the felicitation ceremony, the gathering comprised mainly of the awardees and their family members with the rest of the hall remaining vacant. The felicitation function was held as part of the five-day long Jyotirpeeth Mahita Mahotsav which began on June 20 to commemorate 2,500 years of Dharm Seva.
A majority of those felicitated were those who were in the past linked to Swami Madhavashram, one of the claimants to the seat of Jyotirpeeth Shankaracharya and strong opponent of Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotirpeeth and Dwarika Peeth.
Under the guidance of Shankarcharya Swaroopanand, about 25 local residents were felicitated on the occasion for their work in various fields. Apart from the awardees and their family members, the presence of local community members was negligible on the occasion.
Most of the awardees had been linked with Madhavashram or were local and district level media persons while educationalists, culture pundits and even the local youngsters making it to the top of board exam result list were not considered for the felicitation.
local observers opine that this event was more of a strategy to further strengthen Swaroopanand’s standing in Jyotirpeeth. Speaking on the issue, former municipal council head Rishi Prasad Sati alleged that such measures were being taken to influence the locals in a manner that doesn’t bode well.