By SAP

Date:15-10-06

Source: South Asia Post: Issue 25 Vol II

FOR many in India’s most talked about and the least developed state Bihar it was an experience to see the response to Bhagat Singh centenary celebrations, which began on 28th September this year. These shall l continue for the whole year. Forty mass organizations of youth, students, writers and trade unions, belonging to CPI, CPM, CPIML and others came on one platform and chalked out year long programmes to celebrate Bhagat Singh centenary in a befitting manner. Celebrated actor 90 years old A.K Hangal who is also President of Indian Peoples Theatre Association [IPTA] inaugurated the programme at Patna. This programme that continued for three days included one rally near the statue of Bhagat Singh close the Gandhi Maidan. All major Hindi newspapers of Patna including ‘Hindustan’, Prabhat Khabar, Rashtriya Sahara, Jagran and Aaj brought out special supplements on 27th or 28th September. The attendance in all the programmes was quite enthusiastic.

AISA, JSM and INS organized a big programme at Arrah, birth place of Kunwar Singh, martyr of 1857 national movement for freedom. A convention on this occasion was addressed by Professor Chaman Lal from Jawahar Lal Nehru University and Deepankar Bhattacharya, Gen. Secretary of CPI [ML]. An impressive march by children was taken out. Intellectuals and writers of Arrah participated in this programme and the attendance was considered maximum for such functions in the last ten years. At about 25 places in Bihar, processions rallies and meetings were held to mark the occasion. At Arrah, ninety year old freedom fighter Ramakant Diwedi Ramta and many other activists participated.

On 29th September, another meeting of journalists, academicians and writers was held at Patna, which was presided over by Shatrughan Prasad, a former MP of CPI. Prof. Chaman Lal spoke in this meeting on’ Bhagat Singh and Journalism’. This was attended by many important Hindi writers like Aalok Dhanwa, Madhukar Singh, Karmendu Shashi, Shamoel Ahmad and many others.

Reports from other parts of the country tell of massive movement to  celebrate the sacrifice made by Shahid -e-Azam  Bhagat Singh. In Kolkata, Bhagat Singh Vichar Manch announced year long centenary programmes in a Press conference. Documents of Bhagat Singh are also being translated in Bengali. Programmes have also been held in Chennai, Belgaum, Agra, and many other parts of UP, Delhi Haryana and Punjab.