Thus Spoke Syama Prasad: Selected Quotes from the Writings and Speeches of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee

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About the Author

Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee
was a scholar par excellence respected as the doyen of modern nationalism. At the age of 33, Syama Prasad Mookerjee became the youngest vice-chancellor of the University of Calcutta and held the office till 1938. He introduced Bengali medium in the university, encouraged science education and invited Dr. S. Radhakrishnan from Bangalore to join as a professor in Calcutta University. He delivered convocation addresses in about twenty two universities including Madras, Benaras, Agra and Delhi Universities. Dr Mookherjee was also the founder President of Mahabodhi Society of India and a great devotee of Sri Aurobindo. The Mother had high hopes from him as the rejuvenator of the Indian nationalism and a builder of a new India. At the suggestion of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inducted him in the Interim Central Government as the Minister for Industry and Supply. He sanctioned front lead the sanctioning of the Sindri Fertilizer Plant, Bhakra Nangal Dam and Bhilai Steel Plant. On April 6, 1950, Mookerjee resigned from the Cabinet on the issue of the 1949 Delhi Pact with Pakistan's Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan. He wanted to hold Pakistan directly responsible for the terrible influx of millions of Hindu refugees from East Pakistan, who had left the state fearing religious suppression and violence aided by the state. After consultation with Shri Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayarnsevak Sangh, Mookerjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh on October 21, 1951 at Delhi and was unanimously chosen as its first President. Among its first efforts to assert the sovereignty of the Tricolour, Mookerjee announced entry to Kashmir in May 1953 demanding one flag, one head of the state and one constitutional authority. Mookerjee was arrested on 11th May, 1953 while crossing the border from Lakhanpur by the government of Sheikh Abdullah and taken to a jail in Srinagar. Here he died under mysterious circumstances on June 23rd, 1953. Unfortunately no enquiry or review commission was set up and his death remains a mystery till date.