Patna/Ara: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday kicked off Veer Kunwar Singh's Vijayotsava (victory day) celebrations, which will continue for three days, in Patna and Jagdishpur (Bhojpur district) and appealed to the people to assimilate the hero of 1857's message - to maintain love and harmony in society.
Addressing a mammoth gathering at Dulaur in Jagdishpur block, Nitish said: "The presence of such a large number of people at this function in this scorching heat is a manifestation of love and respect for Babu Veer Kunwar Singh in their hearts. You all should assimilate the messages of social harmony given by him and maintain love, harmony and brotherhood in society at all cost."
Kunwar Singh, the ruler of Jagdishpur, had shielded vast stretches from Ara to eastern Uttar Pradesh from the British for almost a year. He was a champion of people and had soldiers hailing from different sections, caste and creed in his army. He was not known to have discriminated on the basis of birth or religion.
April 23 is marked as Kunwar Singh's victory day because he dealt a resounding defeat to the East India Company, led by Captain Le Grand, at a battle in Dulaur, killing him and 255 British soldiers. Kunwar, then 80, was injured in the year-long war and died on April 26. "Today is the 160th anniversary of Vijayotsava. We are celebrating the occasion for three days so that people understand the huge role Kunwar Singh played in the 1857 war," Nitish said.
"He travelled for around 2,300km during his 'long march' while waging war against the British. That was a time when roads were not there. Kunwar Singh's role is unforgettable. He was a great tactician," Nitish said. "He took every section of society along. We wish people understand the role he played clearly."
The chief minister launched several projects pertaining to renovation of places connected with Kunwar Singh's life.
Before addressing the public meeting at Dulaur, Nitish visited Kunwar Singh's fort at Jagdishpur and lit a torch to launch a procession in memory of his victory.
He also placed a turban on the head of a person who played the role of the 1857 hero and also gave him a sword. The chief minister also garlanded a statue of Kunwar Singh at the fort and inspected newly established galleries at the museum and terracotta murals.
Minister of state for power R.K. Singh, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, art, culture and youth minister Krishna Kumar Rishi, industries minister Jai Kumar Singh, tourism minister Pramod Kumar, art, culture and youth department principal secretary Chaitanya Prasad also spoke on the occasion.
The three-day celebrations kicked off in Patna where Nitish garlanded a statue of Kunwar Singh that had recently been shifted from R-Block roundabout to Veer Kunwar Singh Park. He also unveiled terracotta murals prepared and installed by artists of Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan depicting the life and times of the freedom warrior.
Apart from Sushil Modi, road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav, public health engineering minister Vinod Narayan Jha, MLA Shyam Rajak, former MLC Sanjay Singh, chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and several others were present on the occasion.
