Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Friday said that the stage is all set for the All India Speakers Conference to be held at the Delhi Vidhan Sabha, where he said a lot of interesting historical facts will also be brought forward, adding that it is also going to be a confluence when the entire nation will stand together to celebrate the centenary of Vithalbhai Patel.
Gupta, while addressing a press conference on Friday shared details about the special arrangements, and including the landmark event, marking the centenary of Patel’s election as the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly on 24 August 1925, during the erstwhile British era.
He mentioned that it will witness one of the largest congregations of presiding officers in recent history, with 29 Assembly Speakers and 17 Deputy Speakers of the state legislatures, along with six Chairs and four Deputy Chairs of State Legislative Councils from across the nation confirming their participation.
Gupta Informed that conference will feature four sessions, beginning with “Vithalbhai Patel: Role in Shaping India’s Constitution and Legislative Institutions” addressed by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, which will be followed by a keynote address on “India – Mother of Democracy” by Deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan.
The third session, regarding the role of nationalist leaders of the pre-independence central legislatures in freedom movement and social reforms”, will be led by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and a session on AI & transparency will be addressed by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Gupta mentioned that a specially curated exhibition titled “Vithalbhai Patel Ki Gaurav Gatha,” will be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to commemorate the centenary of the veteran leader.
The exhibition will showcase rare archival documents, photographs and verbatim records highlighting his monumental contribution to the making of India’s parliamentary institutions.
The exhibition will also include archival records of Mahatma Gandhi’s three visits to the same assembly premises which was the Central Legislative Council during British Era, debates against the Simon Commission, discussions on women’s suffrage and labour reforms, opposition to the Rowlatt Act that sparked the Non-Cooperation Movement, and the historic day when Patel assumed office as Speaker 100 years ago.
Notably, the exhibition will remain open to the public on 26th –31st August 2025, allowing citizens, students and researchers to engage with these invaluable historical records and deepen their understanding of India’s democratic heritage.
A specially commissioned documentary chronicling the country’s legislative and democratic journey from the pre-independence era to the modern republic will also be screened during the conference, and the voice-over narration of the same has been rendered by actor Anupam Kher.
Gupta stated that all attending presiding officers will be accorded State Guest status, with 125 liaison officers deputed to ensure smooth facilitation.