Govt sets up committee headed by CM to celebrate Gandhiji's 150th birth anniversary

Kolkata: The state government has set up a committee to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The committee was formed on April 18. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is the chairperson of the 46-member committee.

The state government has taken a set of decisions in the first meeting of the committee, that was held on Monday.

Members of the committee, including MPs Sudip Banerjee and Subrata Bakshi, minister of state for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya and Chief Secretary Malay De were present in the meeting, headed by the Chief Minister.

Vice-chancellors of Calcutta University, Rabindra Bharati University, Presidency University and Jadavpur University were also present in the meeting. There would be a permanent chair in the name of Gandhiji in Calcutta University. The university would take the final decision in this connection soon.

De said: "There is a Gandhi Bhavan at Beliaghata. Though at present it is maintained by the state Public Works Department (PWD), steps have been taken to completely take over the structure. Proper renovation of the structure will be undertaken, maintaining the heritage of the building. It will be done following discussions among committee members."

He further said: "This year on October 2, a programme will be organised at Gandhi Bhavan." The state government will plan the detailed programme accordingly. Some decisions regarding the celebration, have been taken.

Based on the philosophy of Gandhiji, elocution and essay competitions will be held in schools, colleges and other educational institutions. The step has been taken to spread the messages of Gandhiji among people, the youth in particular.

A booklet named as "Father of the Nation", containing speeches of Gandhiji on different issues including communal harmony, national integration and patriotism, will be published on his birthday on October 2.

"Since East Midnapore has a rich history of the freedom movement, the state government is looking into the formalities to name the university there on Gandhiji," he said, adding that at the same time, the universities in the state will also organise programmes to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Presidency University has a centre on Gandhian awareness, where they will organise seminars and symposiums in this regard.