By Our Staff Reporter
NAINITAL, 10 Sep: A grand event was held at Pant Park, Mallital, on Tuesday to celebrate the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter and Bharat Ratna awardee, Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant. The event was graced by the Chief Guest, Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan.
The programme commenced with a floral tribute and homage before the portrait of Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant. Cultural performances by school children followed, showcasing their talents. During the event, individuals excelling in various fields were honoured with certificates and shawls, and outstanding students were also recognised by the Speaker.
In her address, Khanduri highlighted the life and unique contributions of Pandit Pant. She praised his role in the freedom struggle, his administrative skills, and his efforts for social reforms. She noted that Pandit Pant’s life is a symbol of struggle and leadership that provided a new direction not only to Uttar Pradesh but to the entire country.
Speaker Khanduri further shared that Pandit Nehru needed a competent collaborator as Home Minister, and Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant was deemed most suitable. Pant stood by Nehru and faced hardships for him, which left a lasting impact. Pant was appointed Home Minister after being relieved of his responsibilities as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and played a crucial role in the country’s development.
She also mentioned that Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant spent seven years in prison for India’s freedom but never bowed to the British. He, along with Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, appealed to the Viceroy to commute the death sentences of the Kakori train action convicts. Recognising his dedication to the country, the Government of India honoured him with the Bharat Ratna in 1957.
On this occasion, Speaker Khanduri urged everyone to draw inspiration from Pandit Pant’s life and to fulfill their duties with greater diligence and dedication. “His life teaches us that by following the right path, we can play a significant role in the upliftment of society,” she emphasised.
The event was also attended by MLA, Nainital, Sarita Arya, Minister of State Dinesh Arya, Pooran Mehra, DCS Rawat (President, High Court Bar Association), Gopal Rawat, former MLA Narayan Singh Jantwal, Kishan Singh Rautela, Lalit Bhatt, Joginder Singh, Ramesh Pandey, Shakti Mehra, Hema Arya, Daya Bisht, Mahendra Negi, Hemant Bisht, and Tara Rana among others.
