Kolkata, 13 August (H.S.) : The West Bengal government has decided to include the life and contributions of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee in the academic curriculum from the school to university level as part of his 125th birth anniversary celebrations. Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari announced the decision after the first meeting of a special committee held at Nabanna on Thursday.

The Chief Minister said a chapter focusing on Syama Prasad Mukherjee's life, ideas and sacrifice would be incorporated into the school curriculum from the next academic session through an initiative of the School Education Department.

Adhikari said Mukherjee's life, ideology and sacrifice had not received adequate attention for a long period and alleged that political considerations were responsible for this. He said the state government was now working to ensure that his contribution reached people across different sections of society.

The state government has planned year-long programmes to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mukherjee. A special committee has been constituted to take decisions and coordinate initiatives related to his life and legacy. Several important decisions were taken at the committee's first meeting on Thursday.

The Chief Minister said Mukherjee's biography and account of his sacrifice would be incorporated into the curriculum from schools to universities. In addition, a separate book on his life will be published.

According to Adhikari, a book on Mukherjee has already been prepared through the efforts of former West Bengal Governor Tathagata Roy at the initiative of an organisation with which Mukherjee had been associated. The state government wants to publish the book in collaboration with the organisation.

The state government's Library Department has also been instructed to prepare a separate detailed biography of Syama Prasad Mukherjee. The book will be published in both Bengali and English, with the government expecting the work to be completed within this year.

The government has also initiated conservation and restoration work at Syama Prasad Mukherjee's ancestral house at Jirat in Hooghly. The library located there will be developed, while a museum dedicated to his life and contributions will also be established.

Reiterating the government's plans on Thursday, Adhikari said various initiatives were being undertaken to preserve Syama Prasad Mukherjee's legacy and ensure that his contribution was passed on to future generations.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh