Under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), the Ministry of Culture held inaugural ceremony to commemorate the yearlong celebration of the 250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy from today in Kolkata. It will continue till next year 22nd May.
The inaugural ceremony took place at Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Salt Lake, Kolkata, and at Science City Auditorium, Kolkata. The programme was organized by Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Union Minister of Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) G. Kishan Reddy joined the ceremony virtually. He unveiled an iconic statue of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in virtual mode at Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata.The Governor of West Bengal, Jagdeep Dhankhar, said that future generations must continue to follow the ideas of Ram Mohan Roy.
“As we all know that “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” is an occasion to pay respect and remember our great men and heroes who sacrificed their lives for the independence of our country.
The installation of the idol of Raja Ram Mohan Roy is our way of paying a true tribute to him” Kishan Reddy said. He added that the statue of this great man will inspire us and our younger generation. It will remind all of us about the great deeds, high ideals and the philosophy of his life, he said.
Recalling contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, he said that the work he did for education and the improvement of conditions of women is incomparable. On child marriage, he clearly believed that the age of marriage for women should be increased and women should get the right of remarriage. In true sense he was the architect of Modern India and the father of Bengal Renaissance.
