Year-long celebrations of 250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy begins today

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of independence, the Central government has taken the initiative to increase expansion of general libraries in the country as a means of expanding public education.

This was stated by the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shri G. Kisan Reddy, while participating in a virtual event at the Science City Auditorium in Kolkata today to mark the 250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He called upon the states and Union Territories to take the lead in this endeavor.

Shri Reddy said that Raja Ram Mohan Roy, as a pioneer of renaissance, realized the importance of spreading universal education in social reform. In order to honour great men like him, initiatives have been taken to strengthen the country’s library network as part of the nectar festival of independence.

Emphasis is also being placed on the expansion of digital libraries and e-books. He also unveiled an iconic statue at the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Foundation premises in Salt Lake, a joint venture of the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, EZCC and the Union Ministry of Culture. In his address, the Governor of West Bengal, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar highlighted the role of Ram Mohan Roy in modern India as a pioneer of renaissance.