Agartala, September 25, 2024 – A state-level birth anniversary tribute program for Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was inaugurated today at the Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan by Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha. The event, organized by the Department of Information and Culture, highlighted Upadhyaya’s contributions to the nation and his philosophy of integral humanism.
During the event, the posthumous Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Unity Award was presented to Brajesh Chakraborty. The award, which includes a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh, a memento, and a shawl, was accepted by his family member Gayatri Chakraborty in recognition of his significant contributions to social work and public relations.
Students who excelled in essay competitions on Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya were also honored. Sneha Saha from Sachin Dev Burman Music College, Debatri Nandi from Women’s College, and Mujibur Rahman from Ram Thakur College secured the first, second, and third positions respectively. The Chief Minister and other dignitaries paid floral tributes to Upadhyaya’s portrait, and a short documentary on his life was screened.
In his speech, Chief Minister Saha emphasized the importance of Indian civilization’s democratic heritage and the need to follow the philosophies of great leaders like Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya for the country’s development. He noted that past governments had not sufficiently promoted these philosophies, but under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, numerous welfare schemes have been implemented for marginalized and backward communities.
Anirban Ganguly, Chairman of the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Research Foundation, New Delhi, also spoke at the event, highlighting Upadhyaya’s role as a political philosopher, organizer, writer, editor, and patriot. He stressed the importance of national identity and foresight in Upadhyaya’s plans for India’s welfare.
The event also featured remarks from Dr. P.K. Chakraborty, Secretary of the Department of Information and Culture, who noted that the birth anniversary was celebrated in 22 districts. Other notable attendees included Subrata Chakraborty, Vice Chairman of the State-level Cultural Advisory Committee, and Bimbisar Bhattacharya, Director of the Department of Information and Culture. The program concluded with an open quiz competition for school students.
