Important Facts For Prelims
Renaming of Kolkata Port Trust
- 04 Jun 2020
- 2 min read
Why in News
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to rename Kolkata Port as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port.
- Earlier, the announcement was made on the 150th anniversary celebration of the trust.
Key Points
- The Kolkata Port is the oldest operating port in India, and was constructed by the British East India Company.
- It is the only riverine Major Port. Its navigational channel is one of the longest in the world.
- Gateway to Eastern India:
- It is the guiding factor to trade and commerce of vast hinterland comprising the entire Eastern India including Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh and the two land-locked Himalayan Kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan.
- Governance: The Kolkata Port Trust is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Shipping, administered through the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.
Shyama Prasad Mookerjee (1901-1953)
- Born in a Bengali Family
- Leader of Hindu Mahasabha.
- Served as a minister in the Bengal government in 1937.
- Member of Constituent Assembly and later, the first Lok Sabha.
- Minister in Nehru’s first cabinet after independence; resigned in 1950 due to differences over relations with Pakistan.
- Founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (The Bharatiya Janata Party -BJP is the successor of BJS).
- Was opposed to India’s policy of autonomy to Jammu & Kashmir; arrested during Jana Sangh’s agitation against Kashmir policy; died during detention.
