Kolkata, Jul 19 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday paid tribute to eminent poet and playwright Dwijendralal Ray on his birth anniversary, and said his writings are all the more relevant at a time when a “deep conspiracy can be observed against Bengalis and the Bengali language”.
Banerjee also recalled that she had introduced the ‘Dhanadhanya Express’ to honour Ray when she was the railway minister.
“On the birth anniversary of the legendary patriotic poet, playwright, and lyricist Dwijendralal Ray, we remember his creations and pay our respectful homage to him for his contributions to Bengali language and literature.
“Today, when a deep conspiracy against the Bengali language and Bengalis is being observed across the country, on this auspicious day of Dwijendralal Ray’s birth anniversary, there is an even greater desire to recall his writings,” she said in a post on X.
Banerjee said the numerous songs and plays written by Ray on patriotism will continue to be a source of inspiration.
“When I was the railway minister, it was I who introduced the ‘Dhanadhanya Express,’ which still runs through Krishnanagar, the poet’s birthplace. After coming to power in this state, we honoured him by naming a state-of-the-art auditorium built by the state government in Kolkata’s Alipore as ‘Dhanadhanya Auditorium’ and the Alipore Bridge as ‘Dhanadhanya Setu’” she said.
Ray was born on July 19, 1863 in Krishnanagar in Bengal’s Nadia district. PTI SCH RBT
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