The Indian government has unveiled plans to hold a year-long series of celebrations to commemorate some of the country’s leading historical figures.
The country’s National Implementation Committee for Commemorations (NIC) held its first meeting in New Delhi recently, to discuss the commemoration schedule for this year.
Chaired by India’s Minister for Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh and attended by Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of Tourism, Culture & Civil Aviation, it was confirmed that celebrations would he held to mark the births of four historical figures: Rani Gaidinliu, the spiritual and political leader who led a revolt against British rule in India; Lala Lajpat Rai, a Punjabi politician who was an important figure in the independence movement; Tatya Tope, an Brahmin leader who led the Indian Rebellion in the 1800s; and Maharana Pratap, the former ruler of Mewar, or present-day Rajasthan.
Other events will mark the birth of Bhisham Sahni, a prominent 20th Century Hindi writer, playwright and actor, and the 500th anniversary of the return of Hindu monk Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Vrindavan.
Addressing the meeting, Singh said that these personalities “have enriched the history and culture of the country”, and that “high quality, befitting commemorations on a large scale” should be organised for each.
The meeting also suggested that monument or stages should be set up in these historical figures’ birthplace to create permanent symbols of remembrance.
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