Inspired by Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s “Nation First” principles, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged the young to work toward creating a powerful, prosperous, and cohesive nation. Speaking at a state-level event held at Jayadev Bhawan in honor of Dr. Mookerjee’s Martyrdom Day, Majhi emphasized the nationalist leader’s contributions to national integration and education and exhorted the younger generation to commit to nation-building.
As the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University at the age of 33, Dr. Mookerjee implemented major reforms in higher education, according to the Chief Minister. Majhi added that Mookerjee’s catchphrase, “Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan, do Nishan nahin chalenge,” became a rallying cry for national unity, referring to his involvement in the Jammu and Kashmir movement. Majhi claimed that the Congress government’s introduction of Article 370 had negative effects on Jammu and Kashmir and that Mookerjee’s death in detention following his unauthorized entry into the area is still a sad chapter in the nation’s history.
The Chief Minister praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stated that the August 5, 2019, abrogation of Article 370 was a worthy homage to Mookerjee’s legacy and fulfilled his unfulfilled goal. According to him, the nation now operates under a single national flag and Constitution. Majhi said that Mookerjee’s 1951 founding of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh gave rise to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which he characterized as the largest political party in the world based on cultural nationalism.
The Chief Minister stated that the current administration saw commemorating Mookerjee’s martyrdom day as a national obligation, while past governments had forgotten to do so. Additionally, he urged vigilance against dynasty politics, corruption, and anti-national acts.