AP Governor participates in the Webinar on celebration of 75th year of India’s Independence organized by FICCI FLO Bhubaneswar

Vijayawada, September 04 (prajaamaravati): Andhra Pradesh Governor Sri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan participated as Chief Guest in the Webinar on Veer Katha - celebration of 75th year of India’s Independence, organized by FICCI FLO Bhubaneswar in virtual mode from Raj Bhavan on Saturday. Addressing the FICCI FLO members and other distinguished guests who participated in the Webinar, Governor Sri Harichandan narrated the events that led to the Paik Rebellion led by Shri Buxi Jagabandhu against the British rulers. He said the Paik Rebellion was recognized at the Central-level with the initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi, by commemorating the Bi-centenary celebrations of the Paik Rebellion in 2017. The Bi-centenary celebrations of Paik Rebellion held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, were inaugurated by the then President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

Governor Sri Harichandan said when he was the Cabinet Minister in the Janata Party government in Odisha in 1997 he held the portfolio of Culture and took the initiative to observe the Paik Rebellion, which went on for 8 long years, as the First War of Independence against the British rulers, which was appreciated by all circles. The Governor said Shri Buxi Jagabandhu, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Gajapati Maharaja, could not tolerate the oppressive measures of the British rulers and brought together all the Paika chiefs of the State and started the bloody mass revolution of the people of Odisha against the British on March 29, 1817, giving rise to the first War of Independence fought by the common people of Odisha against the British rulers. He said the Paik Rebellion was a people’s war fought by the common people of Odisha and recalled the words of former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee, who said that our history should be written by the people with patriotism in their hearts, who can narrate the historical events. The Governor said the people of the country are very much proud of the Sepoy Mutinee of 1857 which was fought by our soldiers against the British soldiers, while the Paik Rebellion led by Shri Buxi Jagabandhu remains as the First War of Independence as it was fought 40 years before the Sepoy Mutinee.

Earlier, the Webinar on Veer Katha commenced with a rendering of Bande Utkala Janani by Shri Rituraj Mohanty, narration of the stories of eminent freedom fighters of Odisha and an address by Dr. Dilip Tirkey, Chairman, HPCO and former member of Rajya Sabha.

The webinar on celebration of 75th year of India’s Independence was organized by FICCI FLO Bhubaneswar led by Smt. Sunita Mohanty, Chairperson, Smt. Namrita Chahal, Vice Chairperson. Sri R.P. Sisodia, Special Chief Secretary to Governor, also attended the Webinar from Raj Bhavan.