Rapid Fire
Birth Anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee
- 07 Jul 2025
- 3 min read
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary (6th July) highlighting his legacy in national unity, industrial policy, and education, and his relevance in India’s modern development.
- Birth and Early Life: Born in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Dr. Mookerjee is the son of Sir Ashutosh Mookerjee, a renowned educationist and Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University.
- Academic Excellence: Dr. Mookerjee represented Calcutta University at the Conference of the Universities of the British Empire in England.
- Dr. Mookerjee became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University at the age of 33 in 1934.
- He started "Bang Wani", a Bengali journal, in 1922 and The Nationalist in the 1940s.
- Political Career: In the 1920s, Dr. Mookerjee joined the Indian National Congress but resigned later over ideological differences with the leadership. He later joined the Hindu Mahasabha and played a key role in forming a Progressive Coalition government in Bengal in 1937, where he served as the Finance Minister.
- Became the acting President of the Hindu Mahasabha in 1940 and advocated for complete independence for India.
- He founded the All India Bharatiya Jan Sangh in 1951, which later evolved into the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- Post-Independence Role: Dr. Mookerjee served as Minister for Industry and Supply in the Interim Government after independence.
- Instrumental in establishing key institutions like the Chittaranjan Locomotive Factory, Sindri Fertilizer Corporation, and Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation.
- Ideological Stance: He advocated nationalism, Hindu cultural identity, and a united India. He opposed Article 370, asserting that one nation cannot have two constitutions, heads, or flags.
- Opposed the linguistic division of India, advocating for unity based on administrative efficiency, security, and economic prosperity.
- He was arrested during a protest against J&K’s special status and died under mysterious circumstances in 1953.
- Legacy: He is known as "The Lion of Parliament" for his sharp debates on national issues.
| Read more: Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee |
