AGARTALA, Jan 25 (TIWN): CPI-M state Secretary Bijhan Dhar on Monday in a press meet at party office said that the party will observe the 100th birth anniversary of legendary tribal leader and former Chief Minister Dasarath Deb on February 2.

Addressing the press meet at Party office CPI-M state secretary Bijan Dhar said that to observe the birth anniversary an organising committee is also set up. It is to be mention here that the CPM's Tripura state committee launched a year-long programme to mark the birth centenary year of one of the pioneers of communist movement in India and former chief minister Dasarath Deb on February 2. 

In the year long program, three volumes of books on Former Chief Minister Dasarath Deb were released. The books also include the writings of the legendary tribal leader and former Chief Minister Dasarath Deb about the education system in the state and the fight for the development of the state. The names of the books are, Maietrir Sethu Dasarath, Shikkha Andolon e Dasarath and Unnayan er Shangramme Dasarath, said Dhar.

He also said that as a part of the year-long programme, more that 1lakh 60 thousand saplings were planted where as the target was 1 lakh. Apart the organising committee has also organised blood donation camp, added Dhar.

Dhar added that to commemorate the contributions of Deb in spreading education in the remote tribal areas during the royal regime and integration of Communist movement before Independence, CPM organized public lectures in all CPM local committees, sub-divisional committees and eight district committees.
Speaking at ten programs, CPI-M state secretary Bijan Dhar also said that the state will observe the 100th birth anniversary of legendary tribal leader and former Chief Minister Dasarath Deb on February 2 and a programme will also be held at RS Bhawan on the same day.

"All his life, Deb fought against the royal rulers and the zamindari system to ensure equal rights of education and basic needs to the backward tribals of Tripura even before the fundamental rights of the citizens were established. We need to rekindle the spirit of Deb," Dhar said.

Deb was the founder-member of Janashikhsha (public education) movement in Tripura during the royal regime. Born in 1916, Deb died in 1998. He was the first and yet the only tribal CM of Tripura from 1993-98. He fought for tribal rights and became a pioneer in the tribal movement in the Fifties and Sixties.

At a press meet in Agartala, party state secretary Bijan Dhar called upon the workers to pursue the ideals of Deb in fighting against imperialists and communal forces.