Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed a gathering via video message on July 6, 2026, commemorating the 125th Janma Jayanti of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The Prime Minister explained his physical absence was due to a pre-scheduled travel itinerary but emphasized digital connectivity enabled his participation in this historic program held in West Bengal.
PM Modi paid homage to Dr. Mookerjee as a visionary dedicated to India's integrity, noting how his foundational thoughts continue to guide modern India's progress. He described a powerful synergy of intellectual strength, pure intentions, and absolute dedication that characterized Mookerjee's approach to nation-building.
The government is conducting a two-year national festival dedicated to this 125th anniversary, which began in July 2025. PM Modi noted that the newly formed West Bengal government has amplified these celebrations, including the recent majestic organization of Paschim Banga Divas.
Historically, PM Modi recounted Mookerjee's opposition to the 1947 conspiracies threatening to sever Bengal from India and his fierce resistance to the concept of two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two flags in the country. He connected this to the abolition of Article 370, stating "our government is proud that by bringing down that wall, we have fulfilled Dr. Mookerjee's dream" of complete national integration.
On education, PM Modi highlighted Mookerjee's role as the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University and his efforts to transform academic spaces into engines of national future-building. He emphasized Mookerjee's belief that "if India has to become a self-confident nation, its education must be connected to the Indian soul," which PM Modi connected to the New Education Policy's emphasis on local languages.
Economically, PM Modi cataloged Mookerjee's establishment of foundational institutions as independent India's first Industry Minister, including Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Sindri Fertilizer Plant, Damodar Valley Corporation, and IFCI. These institutions powered India's railway, agricultural, energy, and financial sectors for decades, viewed by Mookerjee as "meditative centers of nation-building" rather than mere factories.
PM Modi concluded by urging the younger generation to elevate the historical fight for national unity into a modern crusade for national excellence and self-reliance, collectively fulfilling the resolution of a Developed India. He advised approaching every task with absolute seriousness and dedication to completion.