J.P. Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Highlights Vision for India as Global Knowledge Leader

New Delhi, 30 June 2026 : “Just as a mobile phone must be recharged every day, public life too requires constant intellectual renewal. Dr Ashutosh Mookerjee’s speeches continue to recharge our minds with constitutional values, reasoned debate and a deep sense of nationalism,” said Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India, while unveiling “The Collected Speeches of Bengal Tiger Asutosh Mookerjee” , published by the Delhi Legislative Assembly on the occasion of the 162nd birth anniversary of Dr Ashutosh Mookerjee (1864–1924), the eminent educationist, jurist, member of the Imperial Legislative Council (1904), former Judge and Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, earlier today at Assembly House, Delhi Legislative Assembly.

The publication was released at a special function organised by the Delhi Legislative Assembly in the presence of Harsh Malhotra, Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport and Highways, Government of India; Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister, Delhi; Vijender Gupta, Speaker, Delhi Legislative Assembly; Ashish Sood, Minister of Education, Home and Urban Development, Government of NCT of Delhi; Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Minister for Environment, Forest and Wildlife, Government of NCT of Delhi; Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh , Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Transport and Information Technology, Government of NCT of Delhi , Mohan Singh Bisht, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Delhi Legislative Assembly; Members of Parliament; Members of the Legislative Assembly; eminent academicians, educationists, scholars and distinguished guests. The programme also featured screenings of a documentary on the Delhi Legislative Assembly, narrated by Padma Bhushan Anupam Kher, and a documentary on The Collected Speeches of Bengal Tiger Asutosh Mookerjee.

Nadda observed that Dr Ashutosh Mookerjee’s public life was guided by constitutional reasoning, intellectual rigour and an unwavering commitment to India’s civilisational values. Referring to the thirty-two legislative speeches compiled in the volume, he noted that Dr Mookerjee championed civil liberties, administrative accountability, university autonomy and national self-confidence through reasoned constitutional discourse rather than emotional slogans. He said that Dr Mookerjee’s uncompromising nationalism, rooted in knowledge and principle, continues to offer valuable lessons for legislators, policymakers and public representatives.

Congratulating Speaker Vijender Gupta and the Delhi Legislative Assembly for preserving India’s parliamentary and intellectual heritage through such scholarly publications, Nadda said that many of Dr Mookerjee’s educational ideas resonate with the vision of the National Education Policy, particularly its emphasis on Indian languages, value-based education and the decolonisation of the education system. Urging young people and public representatives to study the volume, he observed 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.

“Dr Ashutosh Mookerjee demonstrated that a nation’s true strength lies in fearless scholarship, academic excellence and institutions built on merit. It is because of his unwavering commitment to education, justice and India’s self-respect that he came to be revered as the ‘Tiger of Bengal’,” said Shri Vijender Gupta, Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. He observed that Dr Mookerjee defended the autonomy of educational institutions even under colonial rule, encouraged outstanding scholars such as Sir C. V. Raman and Professor Meghnad Saha despite official opposition, and stood firmly behind students including Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at crucial moments. He said Dr Mookerjee’s life exemplified courage, integrity and an uncompromising commitment to national advancement through education.

Gupta further said that Dr Mookerjee’s contributions as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, Judge of the Calcutta High Court and member of the Bengal and Imperial Legislative Councils left an enduring imprint on India’s educational and intellectual landscape. He noted that the Delhi Legislative Assembly’s publication of The Collected Speeches of Bengal Tiger Asutosh Mookerjee was a tribute to his extraordinary legacy and would enable scholars, students and future generations to engage directly with the ideas of one of India’s greatest institution-builders.

Recalling Dr Mookerjee’s extraordinary scholarship, Speaker Vijender Gupta said he belonged to a distinguished family of intellectuals and public servants and devoted his life to the advancement of knowledge and nation-building. He observed that Dr Mookerjee’s personal library of thousands of books reflected his lifelong pursuit of learning and that his legacy continues to inspire generations of educators, researchers and public leaders. He added that preserving the speeches and ideas of such visionary personalities is essential to strengthening India’s intellectual and civilisational heritage.

“The lives of great personalities must not remain confined to the pages of history; they must continue to inspire every new generation,” said Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi. Gupta observed that Dr Ashutosh Mookerjee was far more than an eminent jurist or educationist, describing him as a visionary whose life was deeply rooted in the spirit of India.

Further ,Rekha Gupta said that nation-building is a continuous endeavour carried forward by successive generations and stressed that remembering and preserving the contributions of great institution-builders is essential to strengthening the country’s intellectual and cultural foundations. Referring to the National Education Policy, Chief Minister noted that its emphasis on Indian languages and value-based education reflected principles that Dr Mookerjee had advocated decades ago. Congratulating Speaker Vijender Gupta on the publication, she expressed confidence that the volume would encourage young people to draw inspiration from Dr Mookerjee’s life and ideals.

“Dr Ashutosh Mookerjee demonstrated that education is the strongest foundation of nation-building. His life continues to inspire us to build institutions rooted in scholarship, character and national commitment,” said Shri Ashish Sood, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Home and Urban Development, Government of NCT of Delhi. He observed that The Collected Speeches of Bengal Tiger Asutosh Mookerjee revives the intellectual legacy of one of India’s greatest educationists and institution-builders at a time when the country is strengthening value-based education.

“Every legislature has a responsibility to preserve not only constitutional records but also the ideas that shaped the nation’s democratic evolution. This publication is an important step in that direction,” said Mohan Singh Bisht, Deputy Speaker, Delhi Legislative Assembly. He noted that the volume would deepen appreciation of Dr Asutosh Mookerjee’s contributions to public life while encouraging greater engagement with India’s parliamentary heritage.