Book Launch Ceremony of the Ram Nandan Mishra Granthavali Concludes
New Delhi : The formal release of the five-volume Ram Nandan Mishra Granthavali, jointly published by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi, in collaboration with Kitabwale, was held in a dignified and intellectually engaging ceremony at Lok Bhawan, Patna. The programme witnessed the participation of over 400 attendees, including scholars, researchers, academicians, and eminent citizens associated with literature, history, social sciences, and public life.
The Chief Guest of the ceremony, the Hon’ble Governor of Bihar, Arif Mohammad Khan, observed in his address that the life of Ram Nandan Mishra stands as a powerful example of the ideological heights and moral commitment of India’s freedom struggle. He noted that in the present context, when there is an urgent need to restore values in public life, Mishra’s ideas remain particularly relevant.
The programme was presided over by Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, Chairman of IGNCA. In his detailed presidential address, he illuminated the many dimensions of Ram Nandan Mishra’s multifaceted personality. He elaborated on Mishra’s social concerns, his active political role in the freedom movement, his commitment to socialist thought, and the depth of his spiritual practice. He made special reference to Mishra’s close associations with Mahatma Gandhi and Jayaprakash Narayan, as well as his ideological dialogue with other leading figures of the freedom struggle.
Shri Rai remarked that Ram Nandan Mishra was not merely a freedom fighter or a socialist thinker, but a representative figure of India’s intellectual tradition whose writings continue to hold relevance. He noted that many of Mishra’s essays and ideas can still serve as guiding references in contemporary socio-political discourse.
He further acknowledged the significant role played by the editors Ramchandra Pradhan, Dr. Surendra Kumar, and Prof. (Dr.) Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Dean, IGNCA, in making this publication possible. Through their dedicated efforts, the Granthavali has been presented to readers in a scholarly, authentic, and well-organised form.
The Distinguished Guest, Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi, Vice-Chancellor of Nalanda University, stated that the Granthavali would prove extremely valuable for understanding the ideological diversity of the freedom movement and the tradition of socialist thought in India. In his welcome address, Prof. (Dr.) Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Dean, IGNCA, and Chairperson of the Kala Nidhi Division, described the joint publication as an important initiative towards the preservation and re-reading of the nation’s intellectual inheritance. He noted that all five volumes collectively present the life struggles of Ram Nandan Mishra, his role in the freedom movement, his socialist commitments, and the varied dimensions of his spiritual pursuit.
It is noteworthy that the Ram Nandan Mishra Granthavali is an authentic and comprehensive compilation of the life and works of freedom fighter, socialist thinker, and spiritual seeker Ram Nandan Mishra (1906–1989). The volumes systematically bring together his memoirs, ideological writings, Gandhian perspectives, reflections on contemporary socio-political issues, and spiritual discourses.
