The Freethought Party of India (FPI) celebrated the birth centenary of Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela at a meeting presided over by party vice-president Harish Chandra Kar. Ex-MlA Sarat Mishra attended as chief guest.
While welcoming the guests and elaborating on the notable contributions made to public life by Mandela,
FPI general secretary B Ramchandra CST Voltaire said that the South African leader had the uniqueness of courage and conviction to liberate his black people from the thralldom of white racist oppression and discrimination.
No wonder, Voltaire added, that Mandela had to spend not less than 27 years, 6 months and 7 days in prison cell to end the inhuman practice of apartheid.
Mandela refused to follow the old practice of arranged marriage and married his lady love Winnie Mandela.
Mandela was a statesman in the true sense of the term, observed former MlA Mishra. Kar, while paying tributes to Mandela, opined that Prime Minister Modi’s call for “One Nation : One Election” is not going to be fruitful.
Among others, Odisha Dalit Adhikar Manch leader MS Yadav, former SBI officer Bhagaban Bhuyan, columnist lalit Mishra and former SBI Manager Ramesh Chandra Sarangi spoke.
Two pairs of lovers married on the spot under the aegis of AMOFOI.