King County, WA, Declares ‘Shri Guru Bhagavat Day’

India-West Staff Reporter

SEATTLE, WA – A large group of people came together here on July 13 to commemorate ‘Shri Guru Bhagavat,’ an exceptional literary creation that pays homage to the centuries-old Guru-Shisya (master-disciple) tradition. Hosted by the Washington State India Trade Relations Action Committee, the event celebrated the work penned by Dr. Chandra Bhanu Satpathy, a press release said.

Originally composed in Odia in 2001, ‘Shri Guru Bhagavat’ serves as an avenue for spiritual enlightenment and unity. The King County Executive Dow Constantine declared July 13 as ‘Shri Guru Bhagavat Day,’ with the cities of Bellevue and Seattle proclaiming the day as the ‘Dr. Chandra Bhanu Satpathy Day.’ Governor Jay Inslee, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and Senator Maria Cantwell conveyed their official greetings for the celebration.

Satpathy, a decorated former Indian top cop with 36 years of dedicated service, was felicitated by Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz in the Seattle Police Headquarters prior to the event, the press release said. Satpathy’s remarkable journey includes serving as the Director General of Police for Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest province, overseeing a police force of over 200,000 officers.

‘Shri Guru Bhagavat’ stands as a remarkable anthology, containing over 34,000 verses written in a unique nine-letter poetic meter. Satpathy, renowned for his outstanding public service in India, and thought leadership, crafted this work which resonates deeply with Indian spirituality, has transcended religious boundaries and found its place in countless households. Published in sixteen languages and accompanied by music albums in six languages, the work was acknowledged by India’s postal department through a postage stamp and first-day cover issued on April 1 this year.