West Bengal remembers Dr. Syama Prasad Mookherjee on his birth anniversary.

West Bengal today fondly remembered Dr. Syama Prasad Mookherjee, the founder of erstwhile Bharatiya Jana Sangh and India’s first commerce minister, on his birth anniversary.

It was on this day in the year 1901, Dr Syama Prasad Mookherjee, the freedom fighter and India’s first minister for industry and supply (now known as minister of Commerce and Industries) under then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, was born in then Calcutta.

State chief minister Mamata Banerjee paid tributes to Mookherjee to mark his birth anniversary, while posting her tributes on social media.

Leader of opposition of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Mr. Suvendu Adhikari in his tributes said he was one of the greatest sons of India. “I bow down to pay my respects to Bharat Kesari Dr. Syama Prasad Mookherjee on his birth anniversary. He was one of the greatest sons of India, for whom India’s unity and integrity mattered the most and he had sacrificed his life for this cause”, Adhikari wrote on his social media. The Bharatiya Janata Party, also celebrated the day by garlanding the portrait of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookherjee.

Regarded as “Bharat Keshari’, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookherjee had opposed the Quit India Movement in the year 1942, in cognizance with the decision of the RSS – boycotting the movement.

In his letter dated 26^th. July, 1942, addressed to Sir John Herbert, Governor of Bengal as to how they should respond to “Quit India” movement. In this letter, he wrote:

“Let me now refer to the situation that may be created in the province as a result of any widespread movement launched by the Congress. Anybody, who during the war, plans to stir up mass feeling, resulting in internal disturbances or insecurity, must be resisted by any Government that may function for the time being”

Mukherjee in this letter, had reiterated that the Fazlul Haq led Bengal Government, along with its alliance partner Hindu Mahasabha would make every possible effort to defeat the Quit India Movement in the province of Bengal and, made a concrete proposal in regard to this:

“The question is how to combat this movement (Quit India) in Bengal? The administration of the province should be carried on in such a manner that despite the best efforts of the Congress, this movement will fail to take root in the province.

It should be possible for us, especially responsible Ministers, to be able to tell the public that the freedom for which the Congress has started the movement, already belongs to the representatives of the people. In some spheres, it might be limited during an emergency.

Indians have to trust the British, not for the sake of Britain, not for any advantage that the British might gain, but for the maintenance of the defence and freedom of the province itself. You, as Governor, will function as the constitutional head of the province and will be guided entirely on the advice of your Minister”.

Team Maverick