GUWAHATI: Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on the occasion of Balidan Diwas to commemorate the death anniversary of India’s first industry minister Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee here on Wednesday, recollected how the latter helped the state’s first chief minister, Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi, in saving Assam from grouping during Partition.
The programme was organised at the historic Tangara Satra at Rukminigaon in the city.
Dr Mookerjee was found dead in a mysterious condition in Jammu and Kashmir jail on June 23, 1953.
Balidan Divas is organised every year to commemorate his supreme sacrifice for the country’s integrity and unity.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarma said, “Dr Mookerjee was the epitome of country’s unity as he strongly fought for the principle of ‘ek bidhan, ek nisan, ek pradhan’ to abolish Article 370 of the constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.” “Founder of BJP’s predecessor party Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Dr Mookerjee’s ideals still continue to inspire and guide during the present times,” he added.
Dr Mookerjee, who attained the post of Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University at the age of 33 years, extended tremendous help in the expansion of Assamese language teaching.
He even helped Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi in saving Assam from grouping during Partition along with West Bengal and East Punjab, Sarma said.
Sarma also inspected the campus of Tangara Satra after the programme and assured that all help would be provided in improving infrastructure of the Satra.