Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha called upon young people to draw inspiration from the life and ideals of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, saying his vision and commitment to public service continue to serve as a guide for nation-building.
Addressing a seminar in Agartala to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Mookerjee, Saha described him as a patriot, educationist, parliamentarian and statesman whose contributions to the country deserved greater recognition.
He said many leaders had made immense sacrifices for the nation, but their contributions were not adequately highlighted for several years. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on youth participation, Saha said the Centre has launched several initiatives, including Pariksha Pe Charcha, to encourage students to face challenges with confidence and dream big.
“The Prime Minister believes that the youth are the country’s greatest strength. Today’s students are the future of both our state and the nation,” Saha said, urging young people to dedicate themselves to public service and nation-building.
Highlighting Mookerjee’s achievements, the Chief Minister said he became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University at the age of 33. Despite having the opportunity to lead a comfortable life, Mookerjee chose to devote himself to the service of the nation, Saha said.
He also referred to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, saying the ideals of both leaders continue to guide the BJP. “Every programme of our party begins by paying homage to Bharat Mata, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya because they showed us how to dedicate our lives to serving the nation,” he said.
Saha said India’s rich cultural heritage must be preserved for future generations and urged people, especially the youth, to study the lives of national leaders to draw inspiration from their values. He also referred to the Prime Minister’s Mann Ki Baat programme and credited Modi’s efforts with helping secure global recognition for June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.
The event was attended by BJP Tripura president Abhishek Debroy, Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee, BJP state vice-president Tapas Bhattacharjee, BJP Yuva Morcha state president and MLA Sushanta Deb, Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumder and other party leaders.
-IANS
