Responsible government must preserve Sri Aurobindo institutions: Suvendu Adhikari

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said a responsible government must preserve institutions linked to Sri Aurobindo and take his nationalist and revolutionary teachings to younger generations. He assured support for heritage conservation and infrastructure at institutions associated with the philosopher

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said it was the duty of a “responsible government” to develop institutions associated with great personalities such as Sri Aurobindo and ensure that their teachings reach the younger generation. Addressing a programme at Aurobindo Bhavan, Adhikari said the philosopher’s nationalist and revolutionary ideas remained relevant in contemporary India.

“I feel that it is the duty of a responsible government to maintain and develop all such institutions built around the works of great men like Sri Aurobindo and spread their teachings among the new generation,” he said, assuring all possible assistance in such efforts. Adhikari said Sri Aurobindo’s contributions, including the ‘Bande Mataram’ newspaper that he edited, should be taken to students and young people.

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“By doing so, we can bring them out of the lack of patriotic feelings that is sometimes seen in some of them,” he said, addressing the programme on Sri Aurobindo’s birth anniversary. He said the government would look into any shortage of infrastructure at institutions associated with Sri Aurobindo if their authorities brought the issues to its notice.

“This heritage must be maintained,” Adhikari said, recalling that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had advised him on the day he took the oath as chief minister to preserve heritage while pursuing development.

He also thanked Modi for promoting yoga in keeping with Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy. Noting that yoga had been embraced by several countries, Adhikari said International Yoga Day on June 21 was now celebrated like a festival.

“I am proud that for the first time in 50 years an administrative head of the state is visiting this place, which is situated in the heart of the city,” Adhikari said, referring to his visit to Aurobindo Bhavan. He also expressed regret that previous chief ministers had not visited the heritage institution.