Dr. Sampurnanand Jayanti – January 1

Dr. Sampurnanand Jayanti is celebrated on 1st January to honor Dr. Sampurnanand’s birthday. He was a renowned and respected Chief Minister of the state, a teacher, a freedom fighter, and a social reformer.

On the anniversary of his birth, social festivals are held in his honor in different parts of Varanasi. Due to his contribution to the field of education educational institutes recognize and honor his contribution and celebrate the day as Founders Day.

Dr. Sampurnanand’s Life

Dr. Sampurnanand wasa born on 1st January, 1891 in a Kayastha family in Banaras (present day Varanasi). He was very good in his studies and completed his matriculation level when he was only 14 years. He later joined Carmichael library in Kashi where he used to read all the books. He started his career as a teacher of Sanskrit and astronomy. He was extremely interested in phalit Jyotish. Varanasi being the holiest city of Hinduism had an impact of the religion everywhere in the city and on him too.

Dr. Sampurnanand participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement launched as part of India’s freedom struggle against the British. During the freedom movement, he spent 5 years in prison and was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. He joined All-India Congress Committee in 1922 and contributed frequently to the National Herald and the Congress Socialist.

After India’s independence, Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Sampurnanand became the education and finance minister of India on March 04, 1947, and continued till February 26, 1948. He presented the annual budget for 1947 – 1948 and 1948 – 1949. But in 1954, Pandit Nehru called Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant to the Center as Home Minister. So now the name of the new Chief Minister is being discussed in UP. The work was complicated. Because then many leaders in UP politics were of the same stature. Eventually, the search ended with Dr. Sampoornanand being made the Chief Minister. Because the party trusted him the most. He was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 28 December 1954 to 07 December 1960.

In the year 1962, Sampurnanand had to resign from the post of Chief Minister. Political experts say that Chandrabhanu Gupta and Kamlapati Tripathi were behind this resignation. Both of them created such a situation that Sampurnanand had to relinquish power. After this Sampurnanand was made the Governor of Rajasthan. From there, Sampurnanand took retirement.

He was later sent to Rajasthan as the Governor of Rajasthan. He acted as governor from 16 April 1962 and continued till 16 April 1967. The open jail established on an experimental basis in 1963 in Rajasthan is named after him as ‘Sri Sampurnanand Khula Bandi Shivir‘. It turned into a reorganization community for the convicts.

Sampurnanand was always associated with yoga and philosophy. He used to believe that Yoga is like Kamdhenu, whatever you ask you will get from it. Sampurnanand died in Varanasi on 10 January 1969.

Celebration of Dr. Sampurnanand Jayanti

The government of India released a postal stamp of Rs. 1.00 on January 10, 1994, in his remembrance. Dr. Sampurnanand’s birthday is celebrated as ‘Sampurnanand Jayanti‘ every year on January 01.

On the anniversary of his birth, social festivals are held in his honor in different parts of Varanasi. Every educational institute recognizes his contribution towards education and celebrates the day as founder day. Many activities are held on this day like convocations, blood donation camps, cleanliness drives, etc.

Social programs like debates, forums, group discussions, etc. are organized. Special ceremonies are held at institutions where Sanskrit and Hindi are taught as a way of paying respect as he was a scholar. This day is also seen as the rebirth of the culture of India and the Indian languages that are a part of the country.