LEH: Taking forward the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat mission, Ladakh Raj Niwas hosted the celebrations of the Statehood Day of Goa, on Tuesday, wherein officials and civilians of Goa serving in Ladakh were the special invitees.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) and First Lady Neelam Mishra participated in the programme held at Raj Niwas, an official spokesman said.
All 28 states and 8 union territories of India are celebrating the foundation of Sikkim at their respective Raj Bhawan and Raj Niwas as part of the central government’s push to celebrate India’s cultural diversity and different traditions. Goa, which was a Portuguese colony, was given full statehood on May 30, 1987 and became the 25th state of India.
Wishing everyone on the occasion of the Statehood Day of Goa, LG Mishra informed about the visionary initiative taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to facilitate familiarisation, foster national unity and integration of the different states of India by celebrating Statehood and Foundation days of different states and UTs to promote the cultural diversity and traditions under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme.
Informing the gathering about the programme attended by him to promote Ladakh as a future spiritual destination, LG stated that Ladakh is best placed to become the spiritual hub of India in future due to the presence of numerous gompas and meditation/learning centres in Ladakh.
He informed about the various initiatives being taken for the development and prosperity of India by the Prime Minister including his vision to develop India as one of the most developed nations by 2047- the year in which India will complete one hundred years of its independence from the British colonial rule, adding that Modi’s visionary thoughts and initiatives will benefit the people of India, including Ladakh.
The LG shared the important role played by the Indian Army in the liberation of Goa from the Portuguese colonial role on 19 December 1961. He interacted with officials and civilians working in Ladakh and also felicitated them.
Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tashi Gyalson emphasised the need to understand and celebrate the diverse cultures of India to foster unity among people from different states and ethnicities.
Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal suggested sending students from different schools of Ladakh along with a Councillor to different states to celebrate the Foundation Day of UT Ladakh to sensitise the people from across India about the distinct cultural identity of Ladakh. He also suggested celebrating the Statehood/Foundation Day of different states in schools of Ladakh to sensitise students about different states and cultures of India.
Gyalson and Jamyang distributed Exams Warriors- a book by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among students of Moravian Mission School, Leh.
Secretary to LG, Ravinder Kumar, informed about efforts being made to celebrate the Foundation Day of each state with maximum participation of people from that state serving in Ladakh.
Major General DP Merchant, Shakuntala Bhandarkar and Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Yentindra Maralkar, who are natives of Goa, shared their experiences, the beauty of Goa and sacrifices made by the people of Goa for its liberation from the Portuguese rule during the event.
