Nehru remembered on birth anniversary; Prez, VP, PM pay homage

New Delhi, Nov 14 : A Jet flight for underprivileged children and several other functions were organised across the country today to celebrate India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's 120th birth anniversary, celebrated as Children's Day.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh offered floral tributes to the first Prime Minister of the country Pt Nehru on his anniversary at his memorial Shanti Van here.

Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition L K Advani and other dignitaries also paid homages to Pt Nehru on the occasion.

An all religion prayer meeting was also held early morning at Shanti Van to pay tribute to the architect of modern India.

Floral tributes were paid at the portrait of Pt Nehru in the Central Hall of the Parliament House by Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Members of the Parliament.

Secretary General of Rajya Sabha Dr V K Agnihotri and senior officers of Lok Sabha also paid floral tributes.

A booklet containing the profile of Pt Nehru, brought out in Hindi and English by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, was presented to the dignitaries.

The day is observed as the 'Children's Day' in the country as Pandit Nehru had great affection for children. They fondly called him 'Chacha' Nehru.

In Maharashtra, Schools, colleges, NGOs and corporate companies organised functions across the State to celebrate Pandit Nehru's birth anniversary.

Essay, drawing and drama competitions were held by schools and NGO's to bring out the hidden talent in children. Parivartan Shikshan Sanstha, an NGO working in providing informal education to the children living in the slums, has organised a drawing competition and fun fair on the occasion.

Leading private airliner Jet Airways has also organised ''Flight for Fantasy, a fun-filled flight ride for underpriviledged children on the occasion, in association with NGO's -- Magic Bus, ASSEMA, Deeds and Muktangan.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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