JP Nadda releases Ashutosh Mookerjee speeches, urges intellectual renewal
Synopsis
At the Delhi Legislative Assembly, JP Nadda used the release of Ashutosh Mookerjee's collected speeches to draw a direct line between a 19th-century reformer's educational vision and India's current National Education Policy — framing the 'Tiger of Bengal' as a forerunner of Viksit Bharat@2047.
Key Takeaways
JP Nadda released 'The Collected Speeches of Bengal Tiger Asutosh Mookerjee' at the Delhi Legislative Assembly on 30 June .
The publication marks the 162nd birth anniversary of Mookerjee ( 1864–1924 ), former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta.
Nadda linked Mookerjee's educational philosophy directly to the National Education Policy and the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta were among the dignitaries present.
A documentary narrated by Padma Bhushan Anupam Kher was screened at the event.
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda on Tuesday, 30 June released a landmark collection of speeches by scholar Ashutosh Mookerjee at the Delhi Legislative Assembly, drawing a parallel between daily intellectual recharge and the upkeep of a mobile phone. The event marked the 162nd birth anniversary of Mookerjee, one of India's foremost educationists and jurists.
About the Publication
The volume, titled 'The Collected Speeches of Bengal Tiger Asutosh Mookerjee', was published by the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Mookerjee (1864–1924) served as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council in 1904, former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta. The release was held at Assembly House, Delhi Legislative Assembly.
Key Dignitaries Present
The special function was attended by Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta. The programme also featured a documentary on the Delhi Legislative Assembly, narrated by Padma Bhushan Anupam Kher, alongside a documentary specifically on the collected speeches volume.
What the Leaders Said
Nadda observed that Mookerjee's uncompromising nationalism — rooted in knowledge and principle — continues to offer valuable lessons for legislators, policymakers, and public representatives. He congratulated Speaker Vijender Gupta and the Delhi Legislative Assembly for preserving India's parliamentary and intellectual heritage through such scholarly publications.
Nadda drew a direct link between Mookerjee's educational philosophy and the National Education Policy (NEP), particularly its emphasis on Indian languages, value-based education, and the decolonisation of the education system. He urged young people and public representatives to study the volume, noting that the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 can be realised only when the younger generation remains connected with India's history, constitutional values, and rich intellectual traditions.
Speaker Vijender Gupta said Mookerjee demonstrated that a nation's true strength lies in fearless scholarship, academic excellence, and institutions built on merit — qualities that earned him the title 'Tiger of Bengal'.
Chief Minister's Remarks
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described nation-building as a continuous endeavour carried forward by successive generations, stressing that remembering and preserving the contributions of great institution-builders is essential to strengthening the country's intellectual and cultural foundations. She noted that the NEP's emphasis on Indian languages and value-based education reflects principles Mookerjee had advocated decades ago.
Broader Significance
The release is part of a wider effort by the Delhi Legislative Assembly to document and disseminate India's parliamentary and intellectual heritage. Notably, the publication connects a 19th-century reformer's vision to contemporary policy debates around education and national identity. As India approaches its centenary of independence in 2047, such archival initiatives are being positioned as anchors for policy continuity and cultural memory.
Point of View
But they also serve a contemporary political purpose. What the event did not address is the gap between archival celebration and ground-level implementation — India's public universities remain underfunded even as their founding figures are commemorated. Honouring institution-builders carries more weight when the institutions themselves are being strengthened.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'The Collected Speeches of Bengal Tiger Asutosh Mookerjee'?
It is a compilation of speeches by eminent educationist and jurist Ashutosh Mookerjee (1864–1924), published by the Delhi Legislative Assembly. The volume was released on 30 June 2025 to mark his 162nd birth anniversary.
Who is Ashutosh Mookerjee and why is he significant?
Ashutosh Mookerjee was a scholar, jurist, and educationist who served as Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta. He was a member of the Imperial Legislative Council in 1904 and is revered as the 'Tiger of Bengal' for his commitment to fearless scholarship and India's self-respect.
What did JP Nadda say at the event?
Nadda said that Mookerjee's speeches continue to recharge minds with constitutional values and reasoned debate, comparing intellectual renewal to the daily recharging of a mobile phone. He also drew parallels between Mookerjee's educational ideas and the National Education Policy's emphasis on Indian languages and value-based education.
How does this event connect to the National Education Policy?
Both Nadda and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta noted that Mookerjee had advocated for Indian languages and value-based education long before the NEP formalised these principles. The publication is being positioned as evidence of a continuous Indian intellectual tradition that the NEP seeks to revive.
Who else attended the book release at the Delhi Legislative Assembly?
The event was attended by Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta. A documentary narrated by Padma Bhushan Anupam Kher was also screened at the function.
