India to celebrate Jawaharlal Nehru's 125th birth anniversary

New Delhi, Sep 19: The Ministry of Culture Friday said Rs.20 crore has been allocated for various projects to commemorate the 125th birth

of

this year.

"The plans are to release postal stamps, renovate Nehru memorial and publish books on Nehru to celebrate the day," Ravindra Singh, secretary, said at a conference here highlighting the achievements and initiatives of the culture ministry in the 100 days of the government.

"For this, Rs.20 crore have been allocated," he added.

The culture ministry is the nodal ministry for carrying out activities related to the commemoration.

Jawaharlal Nehru's birth anniversary Nov 14 is observed every year as Children's Day.

The ministry will also celebrate the birth centenary of Indian ghazal and thumri singer Begum Akhtar.

A national implementation committee for the Komagata Maru incident has also been constituted.

The Komagata Maru was a Japanese ship hired by a Malaysia-based wealthy Sikh Gurdit Singh in 1914 to bring 376 Indians, mostly Sikhs, into Canada to challenge racist laws of that time.

But when the ship reached Vancouver via Hong Kong, its passengers were not allowed to disembark for two months and then forcibly sent back to India where 20 of them were shot dead by the police on arrival in Calcutta.

This incident's 100th anniversary falls in 2014.

Its inaugural function will be held Sep 29, while Begum Akhtar's birthday will be celebrated Oct 7.

IANS