The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee is set to commemorate the 140th foundation day of the Indian National Congress with a series of events in Lucknow this Sunday. The day-long celebration aims to reconnect party workers with the party's rich ideological legacy and prepare for upcoming political challenges.
A Day of Ceremony and Reflection
The festivities will commence at 10:30 am with a flag-hoisting ceremony. Following this, a specially curated historical exhibition will be inaugurated by AICC in-charge Avinash Pandey and UP Congress state president Ajay Rai. According to Manish Hindwi, vice-chairman of the media department for UP Congress, the exhibition is designed to remind party members of the core values and history that have shaped the organization.
Walking Through 140 Years of History
The exhibition is a centerpiece of the celebrations, featuring more than 30 exhibits that trace pivotal moments in the party's journey. It highlights key sessions that shaped India's freedom struggle and nation-building process.
Notable pre-Independence milestones on display include:
- The 1896 Calcutta session presided over by M Rehmatullah Sayani, where Rabindranath Tagore sang 'Vande Mataram'.
- The 1911 Calcutta session chaired by Bishan Narayan Dhar, which featured the first rendition of 'Jana Gana Mana' by Sarala Devi Chaudhurani.
- The 1924 Belgaum session led by Mahatma Gandhi, which adopted the charkha and khadi as symbols of self-reliance.
- The historic 1929 Lahore session under Jawaharlal Nehru, which gave the clarion call for Purna Swaraj (complete independence).
The post-Independence narrative covers sessions like the 1948 Jaipur session chaired by Pattabhi Sitaramayya, and more recent gatherings such as the 1998 and 2018 Delhi sessions led by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi respectively.
Organizational Meetings and Future Roadmap
Beyond the exhibition, senior leaders will address a symposium to mark the occasion. During his visit, Avinash Pandey is scheduled to hold crucial organizational meetings. Party sources indicate he is likely to announce the schedule for upcoming rallies and public outreach programs across Uttar Pradesh.
Congress leaders stated that the celebrations are intended to reaffirm the party's commitment to constitutional values while energizing its cadre to face future political battles. The event underscores the party's effort to bridge its historical legacy with contemporary political strategy in a key state like Uttar Pradesh.
