Chief Minister remembered the contribution of late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in formation of Chhattisgarh state and the sacrifices of Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh for Chhattisgarh Mahtari
Raipur, 13 December 2023 / Before heading for the oath-taking ceremony scheduled today, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute to two great personas and commemorated their significant contributions towards the state of Chhattisgarh. In the morning, Chief Minister Shri Sai reached Avanti Vihar ATM chowk and garlanded the statue of former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the pioneer of Chhattisgarh state. Later, Shri Sai reached Jai Stambh Chowk and garlanded the statue of Chhattisgarh’s first freedom fighter Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh and paid tribute to his dedication and sacrifices for Chhattisgarh Mahtari.
With the determination and efforts of the former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chhattisgarh state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh on 1 November 2000. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had decided in the year 1990 itself that Chhattisgarh region should be declared a state, separate from Madhya Pradesh. Shri Vajpayee admired Chhattisgarh for its tribal culture and forest resources. It is noteworthy that the demand for Chhattisgarh state was being raised since year 1965, but it was eventually met by the government of Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in year 2000.
Chhattisgarh’s first freedom fighter Shaheed Veernarayan Singh was a tribal hero who sacrificed his life for Chhattisgarh Mahtari. He was born in 1795 in a zamindar family of Sonakhan. Veer Narayan Singh is an important name among the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the freedom struggle of 1857. He fought valiantly against the British rule to save poor from starvation during the severe famine of 1856. He formed an army of gunmen and fought bravely against the oppression of British rulers. To curb the rebellion, British administration imprisoned Veer Narayan Singh through diplomacy and hanged him to death on 10 December 1857, after trial. The struggle and sacrifices of Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh for the motherland will continue to inspire us for generations to come. To commemorate his contribution, State Government has established “Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Samman” for excellent work in the field of upliftment of tribal and backward classes.
