India, July 5 -- A Constitution that fostered and bolstered national cohesion and Indian nationalism was a core theme for Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He appreciated the fact that J&K's accession to India was unique.

Born on July 6, 1901, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee was a prominent proponent of a unified India as well as a strong sense of nationalism among citizens. In the Constituent Assembly in the 1940s, he advocated a smooth integration and harmony of states within the Union of India and advised against the drafting of the Constitution that might foster regional separatism. He observed that the ground realities of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), such as its unique cultural and geographic identity should be respected. Yet, it ought not to interfere...