DIMAPUR — Nagaland Governor, La. Ganesan, has propagated ‘Ek Bharatha Bharat’ programme, which aimed at exposing people to diverse culture and tradition and interaction between people of different states and union territories in India.
The programme envisaged that the knowledge of the language, culture, traditions and practices of different states would lead to mutual understanding and appreciation for the diversity is India.
Speaking at the West Bengal foundation day programme held at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday, Ganesan stated that the programme was aimed at celebrating the people of the particular state wherever they are residing in a country. He mentioned that the programme was announced by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on the occasion of 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 2015.
Governor highlighted on how the state of West Bengal came into being on June 20, June 1947, when the Bengal Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution to partition Bengal into West Bengal. He also shared about the state’s contribution towards India Independence movement, which is known for its political and cultural activities and educational institutions, an update from Raj Bhavan stated.
Ganesan also shared about the contributions made by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in literature, Satyajit Ray in cinema, Amartya Sen and Abhijit Bannerjee in economics, JC Bose, Satyandra Nath and Meghnad Saha in Science, Syama Prasad Mukherjee in politics, Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Swami Vivikananda in spirituality, Raja Ram Mohan Roy in social reformation to other prominent personality in the fields of music, arts, cinema, sports etc.
The governor stated that people from Bengal have played an integral role, especially in commerce and service sector in the initial part of the state’s history. He revealed that the Bengali community living in Nagaland is old and vibrant that has co-existed peacefully with the local population. The governor acknowledged them for their contributions to the state and also urged them to continue their enterprising spirit and partake in the vision to make Nagaland a prosperous state as they make Nagaland their second home.
The secretary to Governor, Rajesh Soundararajan, who delivered the welcome address, stated that Bengalis and the Nagas have a very long association marked with mutual respect for each other. He, therefore, urged them to further strengthen the existing emotional bond between the two communities.
Meanwhile, the development officer of LIC and president of Bengali Samaj, Kohima, Sudipta Kumar Dey, thanked the governor and officers and staff for bringing the people of two states together on a common platform.
On the occasion, Rabindra Sangeet and Rabindrer Nritya were performed by Rajen Debnath and Silikali Swu and Group, while Bengali patriotic song and Bengali folk dance were presented by Sonali Lodh and Vihakha Debnath respectively.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Neena Dutta, managing director of St. Mary’s School, Dimapur.
The celebration was attended by Bengali community from Kohima and Dimapur and officers and staff of Raj Bhavan, Kohima.
