The Ministry of Culture has announced a two-year official commemoration to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Bharat Kesari Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, honouring the enduring legacy of a leader whose contributions have shaped India’s political, cultural and educational journey.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who was the Chief Guest at the inaugural event held in the national capital, paid rich tributes to Dr. Mookerjee’s vision for national unity and self-reliance. He said that India today is fulfilling the dreams Dr. Mookerjee once envisioned.
“He must be blessing us, seeing that India’s aircraft has reached the moon and that a son of India speaks with the Prime Minister from space,” the Minister said. Referring to the transformation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, “His soul must feel content that Tiranga Yatras are carried out fearlessly at Lal Chowk, and that all laws of India are fully implemented in Kashmir. Today, there is one nation, one flag and one Constitution.”
Shekhawat further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to realising Dr. Mookerjee’s vision of a united and developed India. “After Independence, how India should be built — to give shape to that vision, the present Modi government is moving ahead on the path shown by him,” he added.
Speaking at the event, Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, highlighted Dr. Mookerjee’s ideals and their relevance in contemporary India. “He was a great patriot, a visionary educationist and a staunch believer in India’s unity and integrity,” he said. He added that the commemoration will not be confined to Delhi alone but will be observed across all states and union territories over the next two years.
Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, who also addressed the gathering, described Dr. Mookerjee as one of the greatest scholars and statesmen of the pre-Independence era. He recalled Dr. Mookerjee’s courage in resigning from the government on matters of principle, saying, “That kind of integrity and conviction is rare.”
President of the Ekatma Manav Darshan Anusandhan Evam Vikas Pratishthan, Dr. Mahesh Chandra Sharma, offered a detailed perspective on Dr. Mookerjee’s role during Partition and India’s constitutional history. He said Dr. Mookerjee firmly opposed the idea of Partition and worked to save parts of Bengal and Assam from being handed over to Pakistan.
Chairman of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, Dr. Anirban Ganguly, traced Dr. Mookerjee’s journey from his early academic brilliance to his impact on national politics. He recalled how Dr. Mookerjee strongly opposed Article 370 and famously said, “Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan, aur do Nishan nahi chalenge.” He noted that Dr. Mookerjee became a Vice Chancellor at the age of 33, entered the Union Cabinet at 45, founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh at 50, and sacrificed his life at just 52.
The inaugural programme featured a special exhibition showcasing rare photographs, archival material and multimedia displays highlighting Dr. Mookerjee’s contributions in education, nation-building and industrial development. A commemorative stamp and coin were also released by the Ministry to honour his memory.
The National School of Drama staged a theatrical production on the life and times of Dr. Mookerjee, while young scholars from the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training presented a soulful instrumental ensemble under the guidance of noted flautist Pt. Chetan Joshi.