Regional Conference of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan opens
   Date :10-Nov-2019
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari lighting the traditional lamp to inaugurate the conference as dignitaries including Swami Bhudevananda Maharaj, MP Pradip Bhattacharjee, Shubhra Mukherjee and others look on. (Pic by Satish Raut )
 
Staff Reporter :
 
The contribution of Maharashtra, Bengal and Bengalis in promoting and preserving Indian culture, heritage through art, literature, music and dance is remarkable, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Surface Transport, here on Saturday. Gadkari was speaking after inaugurating the first Regional Conference of Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan held at South Central Zone Cultural Centre in Civil Lines. Pradip Bhattacharjee, MP (Rajya Sabha) and All India President of sammelan, presided over the function. The guests lit the traditional lamp to mark inauguration of the programme.
 
Swami Bhudevananda Maharaj, President of the conference, Shubhra Mukherjee, Chairperson of Reception Committee, and Mandira Ganguly, Secretary of the committee, were prominently present. Gadkari further said that deteriorating family system was the major problem in Western countries while India was not facing it because of rich cultural heritage, literature and value-based lifestyle. He appreciated Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan for organising such conference that would not only educate younger generation but also promote values in them.
 
On the occasion, the minister felicitated Dr Major Subir Mukherjee for his immense contribution as a soldier in three wars fought by India and also released a souvenir. Swami Bhudevananda Maharaj, Prof Bhattacharjee and Jayanta Ghosh also expressed their views. The conference will conclude on Sunday. Rabindranath Tagore had established this sahitya sammelan in 1923. The organisation has 120 branches located in various parts of the country. The objective of the organisation is to promote, conserve Bengali language and establish friendly relations with other linguistic regions, informed Mandira Ganguly. A number of Bengali-speaking citizens were present in the programme.