State to introduce 'Medhabi Bhata' in Gandhiji's honour
Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to introduce Medhabi Bhata in honour of Gandhiji. The Chief Minister has announced a series of programmes to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
While addressing a gathering in a programme at Beliaghata Gandhi Bhavan, the Chief Minister said: "The Higher Education department will be introducing Medhabi Bhata in honour of Gandhiji."
Banerjee has also announced that a procession will be organised next year on October 2 in the city. She said: "The route of the venue will be announced later. I will urge people from all sections to attend the rally."
She further said that the state government has taken over Gandhi Bhavan at Beliaghata to restore it. The step has been taken as it is a heritage building and needs to be preserved properly for the next generation.
"The state government has taken steps for restoration of Gandhi Bhavan at Beliaghata and Rs 3.5 crore will be spent for the same. There will be a museum as well," she said, adding that the Gandhi Bhavan here is of great historical value, as Gandhiji was present here on the day India became independent, on August 15 in 1947.
She further said that the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi will be observed across the country in 2019. "But we have started from 2018 onwards and there will be a series of programmes that will continue for the next two years," she said, adding that steps will be taken to spread the message of Mahatma Gandhi across the state.
She further said that the university named after Gandhiji is coming up at Tamluk in East Midnapore. Tamluk has been selected to set up the university as it is one of the three places in the country that first got independent.
There will be a chair in the name of Gandhiji in Calcutta University. She mentioned that the life and works of Gandhiji is already in the school curriculum in Bengal.