West Bengal ‘foundation day’ celebrated across states despite Mamata's strong opposition

West Bengal ‘Foundation Day’ was celebrated in several states on Tuesday despite strong opposition by home state’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, who termed it “a political move by saffron camp.” While West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose organised state's 'Foundation Day' programme at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, his Bihar counterpart Rajendra Arlekar took part in a function in Patna where he said people of various states were like brors and sisters as y h " same mor - Bharat Mata".

Arlekar paid rich tributes to contributions of Bengal in country's freedom struggle and social and cultural reforms, and recalled famous saying "what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow".

He ded, "in spite of diversity, whole of India was one and spirit of unity must always be kept alive".

Senior officials and eminent Bengali citizens living in Bihar were present on occasion, which was marked by a function showcasing rich culture of eastern state.

In Ranchi, Jharkhand Governor CP Rhakrishnan termed West Bengal as crle of art and trition.

He said while contribution of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in freedom struggle has been unique, land has produced many great thinkers, writers, poets and revolutionaries.

He said, "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" is a visionary initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Foundation Day was organised under this initiative at Raj Bhavan.

He said West Bengal has produced many writers of international repute including Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chandra Chattophyay, Mahasweta Devi, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Ashapurna Devi, among ors.

He said people of West Bengal celebrate ir festivals with great devotion, passion and grandeur and Bengali community is not only rooted in ir tritions, but y are also known for ir modern and progressive outlook.

Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan emphasized historical significance of Bengal and its journey as a torchbearer of renaissance, socio-cultural awakening, and nationalistic development, despite enduring oppressive conditions during British rule.

dressing a garing at Raj Bhavan in Shillong, Governor highlighted how West Bengal, despite enduring painful consequences of religious divisions, emerged as an integral part of India.

Arunachal Presh Governor Lt Gen K T Parnaik urged state's people to celebrate vibrant, bold and multicultural spirit of West Bengal, which has been harbinger of modernisation in fine arts, textiles and tritional cuisines.

Participating at West Bengal ‘Foundation Day’ function at Raj Bhavan in Itanagar, Governor greeted people of eastern state and conveyed best wishes of people of his state.

Parnaik recalled contribution of socio-cultural reformists such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Swami Vivekananda, cultural exponents - Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nurul Islam and Satyajit Ray and freedom fighters - Subhas Chandra Bose and Dr Shyama Pras Mukherjee.

Governor said re is much for people to learn and imbibe from West Bengal, cultural capital of India.

Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said Bengal region stood against its purported assimilation into East Pakistan (now Banglesh), during India's Independence.

"Amidst tumultuous era of India's independence, when our great nation faced agonizing division, stefast region of Bengal stood against its purported assimilation into East Pakistan, now known as Banglesh,” he said in Guwahati.

He said Bengalis have long been revered as stalwarts of literature, art, music and atre, with a rich cultural heritage that dates back centuries.