WB panel draws up plans for Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary

A committee formed by the West Bengal government for state-level celebrations on Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary met for the first time at the state secretariat today.

The high-powered committee, consisting of 46 members including prominent academicians and intellectuals, is headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chief Secretary Malay Kumar De said.

As part of the celebrations leading up to Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary in 2019, the committee will hold elocution tests, essay competitions for children and distribute booklets with Gandhiji's views on untouchability, patriotism among the city people.

The committee, in its first meeting today, decided to renovate the Gandhi Bhavan in Beleghata area of the city, where the visionary had stayed and fasted in 1946, De said.

"On October 2 this year, there will be a state-run programme at the house. Later, once the renovation is complete, a national-level programme will be organised at the house with pomp and splendour," he explained.

A new university will be set up in East Midnapore in memory of Gandhi, De said.

The Presidency University will also arrange programmes on this occasion and a permanent chair at Calcutta University will be named after Mahatma Gandhi.

The vice chancellors of the two universities, painter Shuvaprasanna, poet Subodh Sarkar, Ministers Chandrima Bhattacharya and Sashi Panja, besides the Chief Secretary were among those present at the meeting today.