Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Honors Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on Their Birth Anniversaries
New Delhi [India], October 2: On the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participated in several programs to honor their legacies.
Swachhata Abhiyan at Prerna Sthal
To celebrate Gandhi Jayanti, Birla led the Swachhata Abhiyan (Cleanliness Campaign) at Prerna Sthal within the Parliament premises. He was joined by the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha, Utpal Kumar Singh, and many officers and officials from the Lok Sabha Secretariat. Birla emphasized the importance of cleanliness, urging everyone to make it a part of their daily lives and to encourage others to promote it in their surroundings.
Floral Tributes and Social Media Messages
Birla paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Prerna Sthal. On social media platform X, he said, “On the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, I pay my humble tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, seeker of truth and messenger of non-violence and peace. His entire life is a message of loyalty and dedication towards the nation. The ideals of Gandhi Ji inspire us to work hard for the overall progress of the nation and society.”
He also paid tributes to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, stating, “Humble tributes on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji. He played an important role in the freedom struggle and in the progress of India after independence. Shastri Ji’s hard work and dedication are still an inspiration for public representatives and all of us.”
Tributes in Central Hall
Later, in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, Birla paid floral tributes to both Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri at their portraits. He was joined by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh, and other dignitaries, all of whom also paid their respects.
Address to Students
Birla addressed students from various schools gathered in the Central Hall. He appreciated their speeches and highlighted the importance of the values exemplified by Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. “The lives of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri inspire all of us to dedicate ourselves to serve our country selflessly,” an official statement quoting Birla said. He also spoke about how Gandhi’s principles of truth, non-violence, and morality led to India’s freedom and continued to guide other nations in their quest for peace and development.
Birla urged the students to adopt Gandhian philosophy as a way of life, emphasizing spirituality and self-reliance. He also encouraged them to integrate cleanliness and sustainability into their lives, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge to make India clean.
Visits to Raj Ghat and Vijay Ghat
Earlier in the day, Birla visited Raj Ghat and Vijay Ghat to pay his respects to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Doubts Revealed
Lok Sabha -: Lok Sabha is one of the two houses of India’s Parliament. It is where elected representatives make laws and discuss important issues.
Speaker -: The Speaker is the person who leads the meetings in the Lok Sabha and makes sure everyone follows the rules.
Om Birla -: Om Birla is the current Speaker of the Lok Sabha. He helps manage the discussions and activities in the Lok Sabha.
Mahatma Gandhi -: Mahatma Gandhi was a leader who helped India become free from British rule. He believed in non-violence and truth.
Lal Bahadur Shastri -: Lal Bahadur Shastri was the Prime Minister of India after Jawaharlal Nehru. He is known for his slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ which means ‘Hail the soldier, Hail the farmer’.
Birth Anniversaries -: A birth anniversary is the day when we remember and celebrate the birthday of someone important, even if they are no longer alive.
Cleanliness campaign -: A cleanliness campaign is an event where people come together to clean up a place, like a park or a street, to make it tidy and beautiful.
Floral tributes -: Floral tributes are when people place flowers at a special place to show respect and honor someone.
Gandhian values -: Gandhian values are the principles that Mahatma Gandhi believed in, like non-violence, truth, and cleanliness.
Dignitaries -: Dignitaries are important people who have special roles or positions, like government officials or leaders.
Union Minister J P Nadda -: J P Nadda is a senior leader in the Indian government. He has held various important positions, including being a Union Minister.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge -: Mallikarjun Kharge is a senior politician who leads the group of members in the Lok Sabha who are not part of the ruling party.
