Various cultural and theoretical functions were organised in Dehradun to mark the 90th birth anniversary of prominent Statehood activist Indramani Badoni - also called the ‘Gandhi of Uttarakhand’.
Various public representatives, politicians and citizens paid their tributes to Badoni at his statue near the Clock Tower. Demands like incorporating a life sketch of Badoni in the State’s school curriculum and declaring his birth anniversary a public holiday were also made by various politicians on the occasion.
After garlanding a portrait of Badoni at the Bijapur guest house, Chief Minister Harish Rawat recalled that Badoni had made unprecedented contribution in the creation of Uttarakhand State. Rawat said, “His life was one of simplicity and Badoni himself was an example of honesty and high thinking. This is the reason why we have decided to commemorate his anniversary in the form of lok Sanskriti Diwas,” added the CM.
Meanwhile, some Statehood activists, members of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and even non-political personalities paid homage to Badoni by garlanding his statue near Clock Tower.
In accordance with the chief minister’s direction, a performance comprising rendition of folk songs of Uttarakhand was also held near Badoni’s statue. Expressing their views on the occasion, some leaders of the UKD demanded that the State Government is to commemorate Badoni’s birth anniversary as lok Sanskriti Diwas, it should also include the life struggles of Badoni and life sketches of those who died during the Statehood movement in the State’s school curriculum.
In a statement issued on the occasion, the Uttarakhand Rajya Nirman Andolankari Samman Parishad vice chairman Dhirendra Pratap demanded that Badoni’s statues be installed in the State assembly buildings in Dehradun and Gairsain. Calling Badoni a true adherent of Mahatma Gandhi, Pratap called upon statehood activists to intensify organised struggle for achieving their vision of the State. Earlier, speaking at a meet of statehood activists, he also demanded that Badoni’s the birth anniversary should be declared a public holiday.