Shillong: Sadbhavana Diwas was observed by state government officials on Friday at Main Secretariat Building, Shillong.
Addressing the gathering briefly, Deputy Chief Minister, R C Laloo said on this very day, former Prime Minister, Late Rajiv Gandhi is remembered with pride whose dream was to make the country into a developed nation. Highlighting the various achievements of the former prime mininister, Laloo said that he continues to inspire the youth of the country.
The Deputy CM also said that the day is to take a pledge to strive together to promote goodwill amongst all with a spirit of sacrifice and selflessness. He also said that it is the duty of everyone to pick up from where our forefathers left to work for peace and cooperation in the region and the nation as a whole.
Chief Secretary, Y Tsering IAS said Sadbhavana Diwas signify emotional integration of oneness, communal harmony irrespective of caste or religion. He also said that differences can be settled through dialogue and discussion and violence is not the solution to resolve differences.
Later, the Sadbhavana Pledge of promoting oneness and harmony and to resolve differences through constitutional means without resorting to violence was administered by Laloo to the gathering.
The Sadbhavana (having good feelings for others) Diwas or Harmony Day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary (August 20) of Rajiv Gandhi. On this day national integration, peace, love, affection and communal harmony among all Indians is encouraged.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Friday led the gathering at Ampati in taking the pledge to promote emotional oneness and harmony among all citizens on the occasion of Sadbhavana Divas.
Addressing the gathering before administering the pledge, the chief minister fondly recalled the Late Rajiv Gandhi’s visions of making India a developed country while at the same time promoting goodwill and harmony among the people. In a country like India where we have different social spectrum, there is bound to be conflict if one community have self-centric aspirations without regarding the aspirations of other communities, he said, adding that the scars and pain of a conflict take a long time to heal.
