Mookerjee – PM Modi Marks Jana Sangh Founder’s 125th Birth Anniversary
Mookerjee – National leadership and public service remain central themes in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tribute to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday remembered Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, describing him as a public figure whose career combined scholarship, service and strong personal convictions. In an article released on Mookerjee’s birth anniversary, the Prime Minister said his life continued to inspire people who value nationalism and public duty.
Tribute to a Political and Academic Figure
Dr Mookerjee was born in Calcutta, now Kolkata, on July 6, 1901. He was an educationist, barrister and political leader who emerged as an important voice in India’s public life before and after Independence. He later founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, widely regarded as the political predecessor of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Modi said Mookerjee came from a family known for its academic and intellectual achievements but chose a path of public service. The Prime Minister wrote that personal setbacks, including the deaths of his infant child and wife, strengthened Mookerjee’s commitment to the country rather than weakening it.
Focus on National Integration
A major part of Modi’s tribute focused on Mookerjee’s belief in national unity. The Prime Minister said Mookerjee played a role in ensuring that West Bengal remained part of India during the Partition period and later took a firm position on Jammu and Kashmir.
Mookerjee died in detention in 1953 after being arrested while entering Jammu and Kashmir without a permit. Modi said his death became part of India’s national memory and linked Mookerjee’s political legacy to the 2019 revocation of Articles 370 and 35A. That decision remains a significant political and constitutional development in the country’s recent history.
Reforms at Calcutta University
The Prime Minister also recalled Mookerjee’s academic record, noting that he became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta. According to Modi, Mookerjee supported reforms that expanded the university’s library system, encouraged scientific research and introduced agriculture-related courses.
He also promoted teacher training, sports and student welfare, the Prime Minister said. Mookerjee sought to build a stronger connection between students and the institution by observing January 24 as the university’s foundation day. Modi noted that Mookerjee had also approached Rabindranath Tagore to compose a song for the university.
Jana Sangh and Alternative Politics
Modi said the creation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh reflected Mookerjee’s view that India needed an alternative political platform rooted in the country’s cultural traditions. The party was founded at a time when the Congress held a dominant position in national politics.
The Prime Minister referred to the Jana Sangh’s lamp symbol, saying it represented the party’s attempt to offer a different political voice. Mookerjee had earlier served in Jawaharlal Nehru’s Cabinet as Minister for Industry and Supply but resigned after disagreements over issues of national policy.
Industry, Relief Work and Democratic Debate
During his tenure in the Union Cabinet, Mookerjee supported industrial development while also backing traditional sectors such as handlooms, cottage industries and textiles, Modi wrote. He cited projects including the Damodar Valley Corporation and the Sindri Fertiliser Plant as examples of Mookerjee’s contribution to industrial policy.
Modi also referred to Mookerjee’s relief efforts during the Bengal famine of 1943 and after the Medinipur cyclone of 1942. He said Mookerjee helped organise relief centres and canteens for affected communities.
The Prime Minister further said Mookerjee opposed the First Constitutional Amendment, arguing that it affected freedom of expression. Concluding his tribute, Modi said India’s youth could honour Mookerjee’s legacy by contributing to a united, self-reliant and compassionate nation.