The 130th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna recipient Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant was celebrated in Pauri district with great enthusiasm and various programmes were presented on the life of the stalwart as a tribute to him on the occasion. The Pauri district magistrate Sushil Kumar garlanded the statue of Pandit Pant on the premises of GB Pant engineering college Ghurdaudi, about 12 kilometres from the district headquarter Pauri on Sunday. Among those who paid tribute to Pandit Pant on the occasion were the chief development officer Vijay Jogdande, culture department officer GS Negi, principal fo the GB Pant engineering college, Satya Prakash Pandey and students of the college. The engineering college also launched a cleanness drive on the suggestion of the district magistrate on the occasion.
The main programme was held in the premises of collectrate at district headquarter Pauri. On the occasion, the district magistrate Sushil Kumar said that all should try to follow of the path espoused by great leaders like Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant. He referred to the life history of Pant and spoke about his contribution in the national struggle for freedom. Kumar said that Pant had launched the movement against Coolie Begari Pratha and to abolish Zamindari system. He appealed to the gathering to adopt something in their lives according to the vision of leaders like Pant who stood for honesty, sacrifice and his ideals. Others who addressed the gathering on the occasion also spoke about various aspects of Pant’s personality and life.
On the occasion, the district magistrate also presented trophies to winners and runners up of the art competition in the junior and senior group, organised by the culture department.
The students of BR Modern School, Pauri presented a short play on Coolie Begari practice which was appreciated by the gathering. The District Magistrate, Sushil Kumar gave Rs 1000 to the artistes to encourage them.