SHILLONG: In a first of its kind affair, Shillong joined the rest of the country in observing the anniversary of the formation of the Azad Hind Fauz and announcement of establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore on October 21, 1943 by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
The programme was organized by the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Birthday Celebration Committee at the Opera Hall, Jagannath Mandir here, to observe the anniversary in a befitting manner.
Speaking at the gathering which mostly comprised of school students, Amalendu Dasgupta, an authority on Bose, narrated how Netaji was instrumental in forming a Congress government in Shillong in 1938, a sagacious and historic political move that went a long way in ensuring that the present North Eastern Region continued to remain an integral part of India. While addressing the gathering, he informed that in 1938, Netaji had addressed seven public meetings in Shillong including one at the heritage Khasi National Durbar Hall and another at Opera Hall.
Dasgupta also recalled that Netaji had stayed in Shillong in 1927 to recuperate from illness.
Prominent physician Subrata Das, who lit the ceremonial lamp to inaugurate the programme, urged the students to join in large numbers to observe the forthcoming birth anniversary celebration of Netaji under the life-size statue of the ‘national hero’ at the State Central Library premises here.
“In these days, when we talk about secularism, one should remember that it was Netaji who had taught us secularism; his Indian National Army had members from all religion, caste and community,” president of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Birthday Celebration Committee, Naba Bhattacharjee, observed.
Bhattacharjee also lamented the fact that Netaji’s contributions towards the freedom of India did not find place of prominence in school or college syllabi, and went on to add that the Mukherjee Commission report on Netaji’s ‘mysterious disappearance’ had still not been tabled in the Parliament.
An exhibition of several photographs, which portrayed the life and times of the ‘Patriot of Patriots’, was also organized at the venue.
