Visakhapatnam, Kurnool: Various government, public, and private organisations celebrated the 118th birth anniversary of former deputy prime minister Babu Jagjivan Ram across the state on Saturday.
Speaking at a function held at the Saluru Municipal office in Parvathipuram Manyam district, women, child and tribal welfare minister Gummadi Sandhyarani described Jagjivan Ram as a leader who dedicated his life to uplifting the downtrodden. “People looked up to Babu Jagjivan Ram as a sincere and honest leader, whom everyone should aspire to emulate,” she said. She recalled his various ministerial roles in the union government and hailed him as a symbol of ethics.
In Nandyal, law and minority welfare minister N. MD Farooq hailed Jagjivan Ram as a visionary who dreamed of a discrimination-free society. He announced that a statue of Jagjivan Ram would be installed at the district headquarters and urged all community leaders to recommend Bharat Ratna for him.
District collector G. Rajakumari said April marks the birth anniversaries of several great reformers, including Jagjivan Ram, Jyotirao Phule, and Dr B.R. Ambedkar. She urged students to embrace their ideals. Joint collector Dr B. Navya encouraged students to draw inspiration from Jagjivan Ram’s life and pursue their dreams with confidence and discipline. Panyam MLA Gowru Charita underlined the limitless potential of education.
At the Visakhapatnam district Telugu Desam office, state cooperative oil seeds growers federation chairman and district TD president Gandi Babji garlanded Jagjivan Ram’s portrait and praised his contributions to social justice and equality. TD leaders Thota Ratnam, Budumuru Govind, and P. Jayaraj John also participated.
In Ongole, collector A. Thameem Ansaria remembered Jagjivan Ram’s efforts to secure constitutional rights for Dalits. Santhanuthalapadu MLA B.N. Vijaya Kumar and other officials also attended the event.