January 28, 2014
State government to celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Thakur Panchanan Barma
The state government will observe the 150th birth anniversary of the legendary Rajbangshi social reformer and educationist Thakur Panchanan throughout the year in North Bengal beginning 13 February. During her recently concluded North Bengal tour, the Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee had announced the plan of the government to commemorate the occasion.
The North Bengal Development Minister, Mr Gautam Deb, said discussions were held yesterday over the issue and he would report the same to the Chief Minister in Kolkata. He said the government would confer Panchanan Barma Smarak award to the eminent personalities of North Bengal.
“Four meritorious students belonging to the economically poor families of each six North Bengal districts would be given Rs 10,000. A model village of north Bengal would be named as Panchanan Barma Model Village. I will inform the Chief Minister in Kolkata. However, we have not selected the venue yet – either it will be in Coochbehar or in Siliguri,” Mr Deb told reporters.
Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee is likely to inaugurate the programme and WB Governor M K Narayanan may be present during the closing ceremony. “We have decided to rename Naukaghat More in Siliguri as Panchanan Barma More. The road which connects Naukaghat More and North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) will also be named after Panchanan Barma,” the Minister said.
