Sixty-nine years ago in 1953 on this day, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee – one of the country’s tallest leaders – was mysteriously found dead while he was under detention by the government of Jammu and Kashmir. Mukherjee is an example of great leadership and political milestone. He was independent India’s first Minister of Industry and Supply and founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Shyama Prasad was a qualified barrister and was passionate about education. According to him, the aim of our culture is the complete realization of life. He had the firm belief that the cause of Indian advancement is just and righteous and that standing at the foot of the Himalayas and near the holy rivers that have from time immemorial witnessed the mighty career of the Indian civilization.
Dr. Mookerjee had imbibed the principle that education liberates but also that liberation was not an abstract category but an ontological category meaning freedom from economic, social, political and spiritual suffering. We must learn a lesson from Dr. Mukherjee’s life to build a stronger nation. Education, merit and values must come first in public life and it is more relevant for the party that is presently ruling the country because most of the values professed by him can turn the country into a stronger, peaceful and yet, powerful nation. Today, PM Modi tweeted: “Remembering Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his Punya Tithi. Every Indian is indebted to him for his unparalleled efforts toward furthering India’s unity. He worked hard for India’s progress and dreamt of a strong and prosperous nation. We are committed to fulfilling his dreams.”
However, many believe that there was a conspiracy behind Mookerjee’s death. The circumstances of his death were mysterious and though many questions were raised the then political powers never launched a detailed, impartial investigation into his death! The sacrifice of Dr. Mookerjee has lived in the hearts of people for decades now and continues to remain so.
