Deputy CM Pays Floral Tribute to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay on His Birth Anniversary

Prayagraj : On the occasion of the birth anniversary of renowned nationalist writer and poet Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya paid rich tributes by offering flowers and garlanding his portrait at Circuit House, Prayagraj, on Thursday.

Speaking to the media, Deputy CM Maurya highlighted the unparalleled contribution of Bankim Chandra’s pen in igniting the spirit of freedom in colonial India. “What the sword cannot achieve, a pen can. Bankim Chandra’s creation of Vande Mataram is a testament to that,” he remarked.

Born on June 26, 1838, in Kanthalpara, Naihati in the 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was not just a novelist but a freedom fighter and journalist whose words inspired generations. He passed away in 1894, but his legacy continues to echo through India’s national song Vande Mataram, which was sung by revolutionaries even as they faced the gallows.

Deputy CM Maurya said, “Listening to Vande Mataram filled our martyrs with the courage to sacrifice their lives for the motherland. His novels like Anandamath, Kapalkundala, and Mrinalini fueled the freedom movement with patriotic zeal.”

The program concluded with a group recital of the national song Vande Mataram, creating a solemn and patriotic atmosphere. After the tribute ceremony, the Deputy Chief Minister departed for Lucknow via helicopter from the Police Lines.

Distinguished Attendees
The tribute event saw the presence of several prominent BJP leaders and local dignitaries including:

Nirmala Paswan (District President, Ganga-Paar)

Sanjay Gupta (District President, Metropolis)

Rajesh Shukla (District President, Yamuna-Paar)

Deepak Patel (MLA, Phoolpur)

Guru Prasad Maurya (MLA, Phaphamau)

Former MLA Prabha Shankar Pandey

Awadhesh Chandra Gupta, Amar Nath Yadav, Ravi Kesarwani, Rajesh Kesarwani, Umesh Tiwari (Media In-Charge), and others.

Other participants included Vivek Mishra, Sangeeta Patel, Shivbabu Modanwal, Mahesh Mali, Kartikeya Tripathi, Arvind Yadav, Guddu Raja, Rahul Tiwari, and Piyush Ojha.

The event served as a reminder of the enduring impact of literary figures like Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, whose writings remain central to India’s national identity and freedom narrative.