Agartala, Aug 19: Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Bir Bikram Memorial College today, calling upon students to shape their lives in tune with the realities of the modern world and to contribute meaningfully to society.
Paying glowing tribute to Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya, the Chief Minister described him as a visionary monarch who laid the foundation of modern Tripura. “During his reign, he took initiatives for education, health, and overall development. The planned layout of Agartala city and its road network were his vision,” Dr. Saha said while unveiling the statue of Maharaja Bir Bikram on the college premises before the inaugural session.
“Birth and death are inevitable, but what matters is what one contributes in between. Maharaja Bir Bikram set an example through his deeds, and that is why we remember him today,” he added.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to honor the late Maharaja, Dr. Saha said, “He was a lover of knowledge and had envisioned establishing a modern university under the scheme called Bidyapattan. In his memory, the State Government named the Agartala airport and a university after him, besides installing his statue at Kaman Chowmuhani. No other government has shown such respect to him through concrete work. He was not just a king but the architect of modern Tripura.”
The Chief Minister urged students to aspire beyond academic results. “Many alumni of BBM College have excelled in India and abroad. But education must also build good human beings with a sense of responsibility toward society. Students must align their lives with the real world and help in building a drug-free Tripura by making themselves aware and spreading awareness among others,” he said.
He also underlined the role of youth in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant India.
