‘GenNext should be taught about our constitutional institutions’
PRAYAGRAJ: To mark the 134th anniversary of the first meeting of the first legislature of Uttar Pradesh, a programme was organised by Prayagraj Gaurav Anubhuti Organising Committee on the Government Library premises here on Friday.
Speaker of the state legislative assembly Hriday Narayan Dixit and deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya attended the programme as chief guests.
In his address, Hriday Narayan Dixit said, “We have a system of democracy since ancient times. We should tell our future generations about the glorious history of our constitutional institutions. History itself gives us the motivation to move forward. Therefore, some things which have not been written correctly in history, but taught in the past, it is our moral responsibility that the future generation is taught correct history.”
Addressing people present on the occasion, the deputy chief minister said that the history of
Prayagraj is very rich and glorious. For years, it was the capital of the state and also a witness to the meeting of the first Legislature that took place in January 8, 1887.
From religious, literary, political and mythological point of view, this city is respected all over the world. Therefore, the tradition of organising programmes in the public library on January 8 every year has been started, he said.
Maurya said, “All efforts will be made to see that the whole House once again come to Prayagraj and hold a meeting at this venue.”
On the occasion, the deputy CM also informed about various development work that have been done in the city and those in the pipeline, including the six-lane bridge over river Ganga. Those who were present at the event included MP from Phulpur, Kesari Devi Patel and several officials of the district administration and prominent persons of the city.
The UP legislature was established through Indian Council Act, 1861 on January 8, 1887. The first meeting of the Legislative Council for the North Western Provinces and Awadh was held on January 8, 1887 at Thornhill Memorial Hall of Prayagraj (then Allahabad). Four Indians, namely Rai Bahadur Durga Prasad, Pt Ayodhya Nath and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, were among the then nine-member council.
The meetings used to be held under the chairmanship of the then Lieutenant Governor while GE Nox was the first secretary of the council. It was for the first time during the British rule that views of these four Indian members of the Council were taken into account in framing of Rules and Conduct of the state legislature.
The Legislative Council held its meetings at Allahabad, Lucknow, Nainital and Bareilly. However, maximum number of meetings was held in Allahabad before the main (present day UP Assembly building) was constructed in Lucknow in 1920.