Former President Ram Nath Kovind attended the third day of Jaanta Raja, a grand theatrical production depicting the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in Ghaziabad on Saturday.
The production supports the service initiatives of Divya Prem Seva Mission, Haridwar.
Kovind said divine love inspires great personalities like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who embodied courage and compassion. He described mission president Dr Ashish Gautam as a contemporary bearer of these values.
Recalling his three-decade association with the mission, Kovind said he had witnessed Dr Gautam treating people suffering from leprosy at Chandi Ghat in Haridwar. He further congratulated the organisers and said he had watched the production four times in Delhi, Mumbai, Agra and Lucknow.
Dr Gautam expressed gratitude to the late Padma Vibhushan awardee Babasaheb Purandare for creating Jaanta Raja. He further said Babasaheb Purandare dedicated his life to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, researched the Maratha ruler’s legacy and visited 300 forts associated with him.
The production has been staged more than 1,200 times worldwide. Saturday’s performance in Ghaziabad marked its 1,225th staging.
Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar spoke about his association with the mission and urged young people to draw inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s life and ideals.
The show at Suncity attracted thousands of students from the Greater Noida Institute of Technology. Students from educational institutions across Noida and Ghaziabad also attended the event.
The audience chanted ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’ throughout the event. Mobile phone torches illuminated the venue as spectators welcomed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the performers. Hashtags #Kovind_JaantaRaja and #dpsmjanataraja also trended on social media.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Kunwar Brajesh Singh, Advocate General Dr Mahesh Chandra Chaturvedi and Noida MP Dr Mahesh Sharma also attended the programme. BJP leader Nawab Singh Nagar was also present.
Organising committee representatives Dr Rajesh Gupta, Deepak Sharma and Vinay Chaudhary welcomed the dignitaries.
Also Read: ITBP Raising Day: Amit Shah Praises Himveers’ Valour, Salutes Their Sacrifice
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
