SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lok Bhavan on Saturday organised a cultural evening to mark West Bengal Foundation Day, bringing together officials, security personnel, students and members of the West Bengal community residing in the Union Territory.
On the occasion, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha extended his greetings and best wishes to the people of West Bengal and prayed for their happiness, well-being and prosperity.
In his message, the Lieutenant Governor described West Bengal as a vibrant expression of Indian culture, noting that its folk arts, musical traditions and festivals symbolize social harmony and cultural richness. He highlighted the state’s contributions to literature, art, music and science, saying West Bengal has played a significant role in shaping India’s cultural, spiritual and intellectual landscape.
Paying tributes to freedom fighters and revolutionaries from the state, the Lieutenant Governor said West Bengal’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle and nation-building has been remarkable. He referred to eminent personalities including Sri Aurobindo, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Swami Vivekananda, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Khudiram Bose, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and Mahasweta Devi for their contributions to the nation.
The Lieutenant Governor also recalled the role of Syama Prasad Mookerjee in advocating the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country and said the Union Territory is progressing on a path of development and prosperity while building upon the ideals of national unity.
Calling upon the youth to draw inspiration from great personalities, he urged them to contribute towards the vision of a strong, prosperous and developed India.
The event featured cultural programmes celebrating the rich heritage and traditions of West Bengal and highlighted the spirit of national unity and cultural diversity.
