The President, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, today stressed that there could be no progress and prosperity and no balanced material and spiritual development unless the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak were made to progress. He said this could happen only by reinstalling among the people the moral and ethical values of love, devotion, compassion and selfless service.

He was inaugurating the Rs. 30-crore Centre for Advancement of Culture of the International Society for Krishna Conciousness (ISKCON) here. In his message to the youth of the country, he said the values and ideals of the people's ethos empowered the efforts to achieve peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in society.

He added that even though the so-called developed Western countries had achieved material success, their spiritual needs were yet to be met. The modern world was prone to mental stress and tensions and was full of insatiable greed and desires which remained unfulfilled. The pursuit of Hedonistic pleasures, specially among those that were less previleged, had brought in its wake discord, discontent and disharmony. Speaking on the saint-singers, the President said they had taught the approach of bhakthi or devotion not only to God, but to all beings who belonged to God.

Complimenting the ISKCON the President said it had spread the message of bhakthi throughout the world and provided relief to millions of people. The Rs. 30-crore Centre, including the temple, was an architectural landmark with a culmination of traditional and modern styles. It would have an open-air theatre, multi-media auditioriums, six temples, and a 450-seat air conditioned theatre.

The Governor. Mr. Khurshed Alam Khanm, and the Chief Minister. Mr. J. H. Patel, were present.