The Ministry of Culture, in association with the Government of West Bengal, organized a special commemorative programme on July 6, 2026 at Milan Mela Prangan, Kolkata as part of the two-year official commemoration of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah served as Chief Guest, with participation from Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal, and Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal.
The event spanned three key venues across Kolkata. At Milan Mela, the main programme featured a special exhibition showcasing rare photographs, archival documents, personal artefacts and multimedia displays tracing Mookerjee's personal journey, ideological vision, educational reforms, and role in strengthening India's democratic institutions and industrial development. The exhibition remained open for an additional day for public access, with participation from several schools including Sanat Roy Chowdhury Institution for Girls and Beleghata Deshbandhu High School.
Statewide commemorative initiatives reached extensive coverage across West Bengal, with programmes conducted in all districts covering 47 subdivisions, 341 blocks, 7 municipal corporations, and 120 municipalities. Educational institutions across the state organized lectures, exhibitions, seminars, essay competitions, and cultural programmes to familiarize students with Mookerjee's life and contributions.
The cultural programme at Milan Mela began with a welcome by 115 artists representing traditional folk forms of West Bengal, followed by mass singing of Vande Mataram and a grand musical tribute titled "Sur, Sanskriti evam Rashtra" coordinated by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT). The production featured 57 accomplished artists representing diverse streams of Indian classical, folk and traditional music, directed by Padma Shri Tarun Bhattacharya.
A special highlight was the felicitation of Makhanlal Sarkar, a contemporary of Dr. Syama Prasad who had worked closely with him and was present at the time of his arrest in Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a virtual address paying tributes to Mookerjee, describing him as "a visionary dedicated to the integrity of India." The programme also included screening of a short film depicting Mookerjee's life and contributions, and the launch of the Concept Model and 3D Visualization Announcement Video of the 125-foot statue.
At Eco Park, dignitaries performed bhoomi pujan and laid the foundation stone for the proposed 125-foot statue of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, with a large public gathering witnessing the event. The third venue at Bhowanipore featured floral tributes at the ancestral home of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, where dignitaries interacted with family members.
The two-year nationwide commemoration reflects the Government of India's commitment to preserving and promoting Mookerjee's legacy as a nation-builder, inspiring generations through his ideals of nationalism, public service, and dedication to India's unity and progress.
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