Page 9 - NIS English 01-15 Aug, 2026

PM’s Article | SPECIAL

sacrificed himself for a cause in which he had
faith. Years later, the revocation of Articles 370
and 35(A) in 2019 was the most fitting tribute to
his martyrdom.
Dr. Mookerjee put India First and Indian
values first. And he did it by building institutions
and nurturing systems that defied conventional
mindsets of those times. He became the young-
est Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta.
In his unique style, he brought positive changes
that were patriotic and futuristic. Addressing
a conference of educators, Dr. Mookerjee put
it wonderfully when he said, “It is incorrect to
look upon educational institutions as factories
to produce potential clerks and low-paid staff.
We have to turn out students who are capable
of providing leadership to our self-governing
institutions, such as municipal corporations,
provincial and central legislatures and also of
directing the affairs in various fields of life such
as financial, commercial and industrial ones.”
Under his leadership, Calcutta University
undertook unique efforts such as improving
library infrastructure, boosting research in sci-
ences, encouraging the study of artefacts and
establishing courses in agriculture, to name a
few. He drew attention to areas such as sports,
teacher training and student welfare. To instil a
sense of pride among students and alumni, he Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s tenure as India’s
began a practice of marking 24th January as the first Minister for Industry and Supply reveals a
foundation day of the University. He requested statesman whose conception of development
none other than Gurudev Tagore to compose a was remarkably comprehensive and humane. He
song for the University. viewed industry as a means of restoring dignity,
Yet another example of this spirit can be seen opportunity and confidence to a newly indepen-
in the later part of his life, when he decided to dent nation. He respected wealth creation and
form the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. At a time when value addition. While laying the foundations of
the Congress Party was omnipresent, he felt modern industrial India through pioneering ini-
that there was all the more reason for an al- tiatives such as the Damodar Valley Corporation,
ternative voice to speak up for India’s progress the Sindri Fertiliser Plant and a robust industrial
while staying attached to our cultural roots. It policy, he simultaneously ensured that India’s
was perhaps fitting that the party’s symbol was traditional strengths were not neglected. Han-
the Diya, the earthen lamp. A single lamp may dlooms, cottage industries, artisans and textile
appear modest, yet it possesses the power to workers found in him an equally committed
dispel darkness far beyond itself. It is exactly champion.
what the Jana Sangh did both during the years it Here, I would like to share a personal expe-
was active and beyond. rience. The Sindri plant, which Dr. Mookerjee

Aug 01-15, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 7