Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 6 paid tribute to Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee on his 125th birth anniversary, describing him as a leader who dedicated his life to India’s unity and progress. Modi said Mukherjee’s blend of intellect, public service and moral conviction remains an enduring example.
Recalling the period around Partition, the Prime Minister said Mukherjee stood firm in ensuring West Bengal continued as an integral part of India. The same resolve, he noted, later drew Mukherjee to the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, where he remained unshaken despite imprisonment and isolation.
Modi also referred to Mukherjee’s sudden death while in custody, and cited Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s remark that he sacrificed his life for a cause he deeply believed in. He said the 2019 abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A was seen as a profound tribute to Mukherjee’s sacrifice.
Highlighting Mukherjee’s development vision, Modi pointed to his tenure as the first Minister for Industry and Supply, during which he backed initiatives such as the Damodar Valley Corporation, the Sindri fertiliser plant and a strong industrial policy, while also safeguarding India’s traditional strengths.
The Prime Minister noted Mukherjee’s humanitarian work during the 1943 Bengal famine, including efforts to open food kitchens and relief centres, and his criticism of colonial indifference, reflected in his book Panchashar Manvantar. He also recalled Mukherjee’s widely praised relief efforts after the 1942 Midnapore cyclone, and urged citizens—especially youth—to work daily towards a strong, united, self-reliant and compassionate India as the best homage to him.
