Spirit of sacrifice is akin to people of Punjab and Bengal – Purohit

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 20: The West Bengal Foundation Day Celebration was  organized here today at Punjab Raj Bhawan, Chandigarh. The event is fifth in the series of State Foundation Day Celebrations being organized under the National Integration initiative (Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat). Prior to West Bengal Foundation Day Punjab Raj Bhawan and UT Administration, jointly celebrated the Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Sikkim and Telangana Foundation Days.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Banwari Lal Purohit, the Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh said that each state in our Country is endowed with unique geographical and natural diversity. Celebrating Foundation Days gives us an opportunity to know and understand the culture, food, clothing, festivals and picturesque places of other States which in turn promotes affinity and the feeling of national unity.

Talking of the traits of the people of Bengal, the Governor said “the spirit of sacrifice is the hallmark of people of Bengal”. Bengal is the land of immortal freedom fighters. He said that bravery is the trait akin to the people of West Bengal and Punjab. Both the States have given birth to immortal revolutionaries. He added that  Bengal is the birth place of Khudi Ram Bose who attained martyrdom at the tender age of 18  while Punjab is the land that is proud to be the motherland of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Madan Lal Dhingra who sacrificed their lives at the altar of the Nation in their early 20s. Similarly, the famous Lal Bal Pal trio of Indian Freedom Struggle had Bipin Chandra Pal from Bengal and Lion of Punjab, Lala Lajpat Rai from Punjab.

He eulogized the State for being birthplace of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and the Karma Bhoomi of Neta Ji Subash Chandra Bose; it is the land of Swami Vivekananda and Chaitainya Maha Prabhu, of Raja Ram Mohan Rai and Ishwar Chander Vidya Sagar.

The world class scientists like Jagdish Chandra Bose, P.C. Ray, S.N. Bose and Megh Nad Saha, the political luminaries like Desh Bandhu Chitranjan Dass, Dr. Shayama Prashad Mukherjee and Bharat Ratna former President, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee all are from Bengal. The people of the State have also made important contribution to Indian Cinema and has given many singers, musicians and actors to the country.

Earlier, the ‘Moshai’ energy created an atmosphere of energy and enthusiasm when the artists gave a breath taking Baul singing performance.

The event witnessed the presence of members of Bengla Samaj, Chandigarh, esteemed dignitaries, politicians and the senior officers of Punjab and Chandigarh.