Shukla Mohanty, principal of Graduate School College for Women, inaugurates Netaji’s birthday celebrations at Michael John auditorium. Picture by Uma Shankar Dubey

Jamshedpur, Jan. 23: Competitions, rallies and cultural programmes marked the 107th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the city today. The day was also observed as Solidarity Day by Bengalis.

Hundreds of children took part in a morning procession from Gopal Maidan to KMPM Inter College in Bistupur .

The programme was organised by Bharat Vikas Parishad, a city-based voluntary organisation.

The students participated in skit and essay competitions on the topic “Netaji’s contribution in the freedom movement.” Former president of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Dinesh Anand Goswami and principal of KMPM Inter College O.P.S. Azad, who were invited as guest speakers, spoke on the life and ideals of Netaji.

The Bangabhasi Samannay Samiti, which observed the day as Solidarity Day, organised a rally from Aambagan ground in Sakchi.

Students from various schools and clubs marched through all major localities of the city and gathered finally at the starting point.

The chief guest, finance minister M.P. Singh, garlanded the bust of Netaji.

NCC cadets of various colleges also took out a rally to celebrate the day.

The rally was flagged off by lieutenant R.K. Choudhary from Gopal Maidan. Commandant-in-charge of NCC battalion Budh Ram addressed the cadets at the NCC camp in Circuit House and urged the youngsters to follow in Netaji’s footsteps.

The Adityapur-based Progressive Youth Association organised a cultural programme at the Michael John auditorium to mark the day.

After the inauguration of the programme, members of the association presented Dance Dhamaka, which was a huge success.

Members of the district Trinamul Congress Committee and BJP also joined the celebration by organising programmes at Mango and Bistupur respectively.

A procession, led by Trinamul Congress district president Ashok Patro, was taken out from Mango. The BJP Bistupur unit organised a seminar highlighting the contribution of Netaji in the freedom movement.