125th birth anniversary: PM Modi hails Syama Prasad Mookerjee's contribution to national unity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary, describing him as a leader who dedicated his life to India's unity and progress. In an article published on his website, Modi highlighted Mookerjee's role in safeguarding West Bengal during Partition and his opposition to special status for Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
Born on 6 July 1901, Mookerjee was the son of Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee, a prominent educationist. Despite his privileged background, he chose a path of public service. He became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta and worked to reform education, emphasising leadership and national pride.
Mookerjee resigned from Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet in 1950 over differences on the Liaquat-Nehru Pact, which he felt did not adequately protect minorities in East Pakistan. He later founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a political party that advocated for cultural nationalism and integration of Jammu and Kashmir.
In 1953, Mookerjee was arrested while entering Jammu and Kashmir without a permit to protest the state's special status. He died in detention under mysterious circumstances. The government later revoked Article 370 in 2019, which Modi termed a tribute to Mookerjee's sacrifice.
Modi's article also noted Mookerjee's emphasis on education as a means to build capable citizens and leaders. He quoted Mookerjee as saying educational institutions should not produce 'potential clerks' but leaders for self-governing institutions.
