Rajnath unveils portraits of Vajpayee, Malviya in Assembly
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday unveiled the portraits of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya at the Delhi Assembly.
Singh also released a coffee table book titled Bharat Mata, marking 150 years since the composition of the national song Vande Mataram in the presence of Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) Trust’s president Padma Bhushan Ram Bahadur Rai.
Addressing the gathering, Singh said, it is not only an occasion to honour the contributions of these two big personalities, but it is also a moment to honour the country’s parliamentary traditions, moral politics and the spirit of nationalism.
Singh recalled the contributions of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya to nation-building and described them as true statesmen. The defence minister said the unveiling of the portraits of Vajpayee and Malviya was a silent reminder of their words and deeds.
He called upon people to consider education as a source of furthering national interest, as Malaviya did, and to treat politics as public service, like Vajpayee did.
The defence minister said Malviya and Vajpayee were true statesmen.
“Vajpayee worked to connect education in independent India with national consciousness. He believed that no one can become great with a petty mindset and ensured that political differences never turned into discord,” Singh said. “Vajpayee taught us to remain humble while in power and to serve national interests while in opposition. Even while criticising anyone, he always maintained dignity and avoided hurting them,” he said. Vajpayee was a “true successor” of Malviya's thoughts and deeds, he added.
He concluded that the lives of Vajpayee and Malviya affirm that democracy flourishes when guided by integrity, character, and a steadfast commitment to the nation.
Delhi Assembly speaker Vijender Gupta described the day as a moment of pride and joy for the House, as portraits of two Bharat Ratna awardees — both born on 25 December — were unveiled in the august Assembly. The programme witnessed the release of a coffee table book titled ‘Bharat Mata’, which presents Indian nationalism as expressed through painting, architecture and literature, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta called the unveiling “a historic and inspiring moment” for the House. She described the gracious presence of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Ji as a source of moral strength for the House. The Chief Minister stated that both these towering personalities symbolise the resolve of ‘nation first’, integrity, farsightedness and public welfare. Their portraits installed in the Assembly will continue to inspire future generations towards national service, good governance and value-based leadership.
Recalling Malviya’s contributions to education and the freedom movement, the chief minister said the establishment of Banaras Hindu University remains a testament to his visionary approach. She hailed Vajpayee as a “statesman of an era” whose leadership laid the foundation for India’s current growth and unity.
On the release of Bharat Mata, the chief minister said the book reflects the country’s creative and cultural spirit linked with Vande Mataram and would serve as an inspiration for students, researchers and policymakers. She added that the Delhi government remains committed to the Prime Minister’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” combining development goals with preservation of heritage.
Further, eminent journalist and President of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) Trust, Padma Bhushan Ram Bahadur Rai, stated that the life and public conduct of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee exemplified moral sensitivity and democratic ethos.
