Aizawl: Mizoram governor Gen. Vijay Kumar Singh on Friday led the Foundation Day celebrations of Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu at the Durbar Hall of Aizawl Lok Bhavan under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative.Addressing the gathering, Gen. Singh said the programme, spearheaded by the Prime Minister, aims to preserve and promote India’s cultural diversity by encouraging people to showcase their own traditions while learning about others to foster mutual understanding and brotherhood.
He said many citizens remain unfamiliar with the cultures and traditions of other regions and stressed the need to appreciate diversity to strengthen national unity and integrity. Referring to the histories of the participating states and the Union Territory, he said, “We are rich in diversity, yet we are one—this is our strength, and we must realise it.” He encouraged the Mizo community and people from other states to learn more about different cultures and traditions to build stronger bonds of understanding.The programme was compered by Lalhruaitluangi, additional personal secretary to the governor, who outlined the objectives of the initiative. Video presentations on the culture and heritage of the respective states and the Union Territory were also shown.Dr Ch. Sarakham Aimol, associate rofessor at RIPANS, spoke on the history of Manipur, while Dr Analisha Debbarma, assistant professor at the College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, presented an overview of Tripura’s heritage. Cultural dance performances by students of RIPANS and Government Johnson College were held during the gprogramme.Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura attained statehood on January 21, 1972, under the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971. Uttar Pradesh was established as a state on Jan 24, 1950. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu were merged into a single Union Territory on Jan 26, 2020.Foundation day celebrations of various states and Union Territories have been regularly organised at Lok Bhavan in Mizoram since June 2023 under the overnor’s guidance as part of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative.
