Along with the rest of the country, the 75th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was observed across Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday.
In Guwahati, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) observed the 75th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi at Silpagram.
Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, APCC president Ripun Bora, Barpeta MP Abdul Khaleque, former Assam ministers Sarat Borkataki and Dr Bhumidhar Barman were present at the function.
The birthday of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was observed as Sadbhavna Divas.
In Lakhimpur, the 75th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi was observed at North Lakhimpur by the Lakhimpur District Congress Committee on Tuesday.
A function was organized on that occasion at Rajiv Bhawan, the office of DCC Lakhimpur where glowing tributes were paid to late Rajiv Gandhi.
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991 by Tamil extremist group LTTE during a poll campaign rally in Sriperumbudur of Tamil Nadu.
Dr Joy Parakash Das, president of DCC Lakhimpur, paid floral tributes at the portrait of late Rajiv Gandhi.
Amrit Bhuyan, retired professor of North Lakhimpur College attended the function as the appointed speaker.
In his speech, Prof. Bhuyan highlighted the life and works of late Rajiv Gnadhi and asked everyone to follow his footsteps to build a new nation.
The function was also attended by several leaders of Lakhimpur Congress party including veteran leaders Kan Nath Phukan, Gagan Borah, Gangajyoti Tayegam and many others.
As a mark of respect to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Sadbhavna Divas (Harmony Day) was also organised at Arunachal University of Studies (AUS) premises in Namsai of Arunachal Pradesh.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government decided to celebrate the youngest Prime Minister’s 75th birth anniversary to spread the messages of communal harmony and emotional integration of the people across the country.
The Vice Chancellor of AUS, Professor V.K. Kawatra graced the occasion with an inspiring speech.
In his speech, Prof Kawatra mentioned about Rajiv Gandhi’s relentless efforts to bring about information technology (IT) revolution in India for the first time in the mid-1980s.
Prof Kawatra urged the youth to contribute to the society by initiating tree plantation and cleanliness drive.
Moreover, the VC underscored the relevance of communal harmony and emotional integration against the backdrop of Arunachal Pradesh’s diverse ethnicity.
Prof Kawatra further noted that the AUS, whose faculty members and other supporting staffs are drawn from different regions of India, could be a role model for social harmony and national integration.
The speech from the VC was followed by a recitation of self-composed poem by Brahmadut Sharma, lecturer, Department of Hindi.
The poem highlighted the significance of three aspects of social life – Shanti (peace), Sadbhavna (harmony) and Bhaichara (brotherhood) in the current socio-political context of India.
Subsequently, Dr Shivam Chatuvedi (HoD, Department of Hindi) delivered a well-articulated speech in which he praised Rajiv Gandhi’s vital contribution to the maintenance of communal harmony and socio-economic development of India.
Dr Chatuvedi pointed out that late Rajiv Gandhi had a clear vision for India—economically strong, technologically superior and socially cohesive.
He recited a self-composed poem describing the ideals of the country’s youngest prime minister.
The ceremony came to a conclusion with the pledge taken by one and all present taking an oath for preserving peace and harmony amongst all.