New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped the Visva-Bharati University centenary celebrations which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) claimed that Banerjee received late invite
WB CM Mamata tweeted:
"বিশ্বসাথে যোগে যেথায় বিহারো, সেইখানে যোগ তোমার সাথে আমারো"
Visva Bharati University turns 100. This temple of learning was Rabindranath Tagore’s greatest experiment on creating the ideal human being. We must preserve the vision and philosophy of this great visionary
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 24, 2020
However, the invite by Visva-Bharati University Chancellor Bidyut Chakrabarty to the Chief Minister is dated December 4.
Here’s a copy of the letter:
The Prime Minister also addressed the event and said Visva-Bharati University presented a strong image of Indian nationalist sentiment during Independence with the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore.
“Guided by Gurudev (Rabindranath Tagore) Visva-Bharati presented a strong image of Indian nationalist sentiment during Independence. Gurudev wanted entire humanity to benefit from India’s spiritual awakening. Atmanirbhar Bharat vision is also a derivative of this sentiment,” said PM Modi while attending the centenary celebrations of Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, via video conferencing. Today we must remember the circumstances which led to the establishment of this university, the Prime Minister stated.
“It wasn’t just British rule but in the background, were our rich ideas and history of hundreds of years of the movement,” he added.
The Prime Minister added that India is the only major country which is moving in the right direction to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement.
Founded by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in 1921, Visva-Bharati is also the oldest Central University in the country. In May 1951, Visva-Bharati was declared to be a Central University and an Institution of National Importance by an Act of Parliament.
