Nation first, constitution supreme: President Murmu
New Delhi, Jan 25: President Droupadi Murmu extended warm greetings to the people of the country and abroad on the eve of Republic Day, saying the occasion offers a moment to reflect on Indiaís journey and future direction.
ìWe, the people of India, at home and overseas, are going to celebrate Republic Day with fervour. I extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you on this national festival,î President Murmu said. ìThe auspicious occasion of Republic Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the status and direction of our country in the past, present, and future. The force of our freedom movement changed the status of our country on August 15, 1947. India became Independent. We became the architects of our own national destiny. Since 26th January, 1950, we have been propelling our republic towards our constitutional ideals. On that day, our constitution was fully enforced. India, the birthplace of democracy, was unshackled from the dominion system, and our democratic republic came into existence.î
She said that the Indian constitution is the foundational document of the largest republic in world history.
ìThe ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity enshrined in our constitution define our republic. The framers of the Constitution provided a strong bedrock for the spirit of nationalism and the unity of the country through constitutional provisions,î the President said.
She said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel unified India.
ìLast year, on October 31, a grateful nation enthusiastically celebrated his 150th birth anniversary. Commemorative events related to his 150th Jayanti are being celebrated. These celebrations strengthen the spirit of national unity and pride among the people. From north to south and from east to west, the fabric of our ancient cultural unity was woven by our ancestors. Every effort to promote this spirit of oneness is highly commendable,î President Murmu said.
She said that since November 7 last year, celebrations marking 150 years of the composition of the national song ëVande Mataramí were also being organised.
ìThis song, which is a prayer to the divine form of Bharat Mata, instils patriotism in every Indian. The great nationalist poet Subramanya Bharati composed the song ëVande Mataram Yenbomí, in the Tamil language, meaning ëLet us chant Vande Mataramí, and connected the masses on an even larger scale with the spirit of ëVande Mataramí. Translations of this song in other Indian languages also became popular. Sri Aurobindo translated this song into English. ëVande Mataramí, composed by the venerable Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, is our lyrical national prayer,î the President said.
She said that two days ago, on January 23, the nation paid its respectful tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary.
ìSince 2021, Netajiís Jayanti has been celebrated as ëParakram Diwasí so that the people, especially the youth, can draw inspiration from his indomitable patriotism. Netajiís slogan ëJai Hindí is the declaration of our national pride,î President Murmu said.
ìAll of you are strengthening our vibrant republic. The valiant soldiers of our three armed forces are always vigilant in the defence of our motherland. Our dedicated personnel in the Police and in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are continuously and diligently working for the internal security of the people. Our farmers toil hard to produce food for the people. The path-breaking and talented women of our country are setting new benchmarks in many fields. Our accomplished doctors, nurses, and all healthcare workers are dedicated to taking care of the health of the people. Our committed sanitation workers play a major role in maintaining cleanliness in our country. Our enlightened teachers are shaping future generations. Our world-class scientists and engineers are giving a new direction to the countryís development. Our industrious workers are rebuilding the nation. With their talent and contributions, our promising youth and children strengthen our faith in the great future of our country. Our talented artists, craftspeople, and writers are giving modern expression to our rich traditions. Experts from various fields are guiding the multifaceted development of the country. Our energetic entrepreneurs are contributing immensely towards making the country developed and self-reliant. Individuals and institutions serving society selflessly are illuminating the lives of countless people with their work. All the people working in the government and the non-government sectors, discharging their duties sincerely and efficiently, are contributing to nation-building. Peopleís representatives, committed to public service, are helping achieve welfare and development goals in line with popular aspirations. Thus, all enlightened and sensitive citizens are advancing the progress of our republic. I wholeheartedly appreciate all fellow citizens who are working to strengthen our republic. Overseas Indians bring glory to the image of our republic on the global stage. I convey my special appreciation to them,î she said.
The President said that Sunday was celebrated as ëNational Votersí Dayí.
ìOur adult citizens enthusiastically cast their votes to elect their representatives. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar believed that the exercise of the right to vote leads to political education. Our voters, in line with Babasahebís vision, are demonstrating their political awareness. The increasing participation of women in voting adds a powerful dimension to our republic,î she said.
President Murmu said that the active and empowered participation of women was extremely important for the development of the country.
ìNational efforts towards their health, education, safety, and economic empowerment have increased women's participation in many areas. The ëBeti Bachao, Beti Padhaoí campaign has encouraged the education of girls. Under the ëPradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojanaí, more than 57 crore bank accounts have been opened so far. Nearly 56 percent of these accounts belong to women,î she said.
The President said that women were breaking traditional stereotypes and forging ahead.
ìThey are actively contributing to the overall development of the country. More than 10 crore women associated with Self-Help Groups are redefining the process of development. Women are making their mark in every field, from agriculture to space, from self-employment to the armed forces. In the field of sports, our daughters have set new benchmarks globally. Last year in November, the daughters of India scripted a golden chapter in sporting history by winning the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and subsequently the Blind Womenís T20 World Cup. Last year, the final match of the Chess World Cup was played between two Indian women. These examples are a testament to the dominance of Indiaís daughters in the world of sports. The people of the country are proud of them,î she said.
President Murmu said that the number of women representatives in Panchayati Raj institutions was nearly 46 percent.
She said that the ëNari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyamí, which seeks to take political empowerment of women to greater heights, would provide unprecedented strength to the idea of women-led development.
The President said that the role of Nari Shakti would be crucial in the making of Viksit Bharat. With increasing contributions by women, our country will set an example of an inclusive republic based on gender equality.
She said that with an inclusive approach, many schemes were being implemented for the welfare and development of the underprivileged segments.
ìLast year on November 15, the people of our country celebrated the fifth Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on the birth anniversary of Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and that marked the culmination of the celebrations held to commemorate the 150th Jayanti of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Through the ëAdi Karmayogií campaign, the leadership potential of the people of the tribal community has been nurtured. In recent years, the government has taken many steps, including the construction of museums, to introduce the glorious history of the tribal community to the people of the country. Their welfare and development are given high priority. Under the ëNational Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Missioní, more than 6 crore screenings have been conducted so far. Nearly 1.40 lakh students are receiving education in Eklavya Model Residential Schools, and many students have performed exceptionally well in competitive examinations. Such campaigns in health and education are working to bring harmony between the traditions and modern development among the tribal communities. The ëDharti Aaba Janajatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaní and the ëPM-JANMAN Yojanaí have empowered all tribal communities, including PVTG communities,î President Murmu said.
She said that Annadata farmers were the backbone of society and the economy.
ìGenerations of hardworking farmers have made our country self-reliant in food grains. It is due to the hard work of our farmers that we are able to export agricultural products. Many farmers have presented highly impressive examples of success. Priority is being given to ensuring that our farmers receive fair prices for their produce, access to loans at lower interest rates, effective insurance coverage, good quality seeds, irrigation facilities, fertilizers for increased production, access to modern agricultural practices, and encouragement for organic farming. The ëPM Kisan Samman Nidhií is honouring the contribution of our farmers and strengthening their efforts,î the President said.
She said millions of people who had been struggling with poverty for decades had been lifted above the poverty line.
ìEfforts are also being made to ensure that they do not fall back into the poverty trap. The worldís largest scheme of its kind, embodying the spirit of Antyodaya, the ëPM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojanaí, is based on the idea that no one should go hungry in our country of over 140 crore people. This scheme is providing succour to nearly 81 crore beneficiaries. By constructing more than 4 crore pucca houses equipped with electricity, water, and toilet facilities for poor families, they have been provided with a foundation for living a dignified life and making further progress. Such efforts for the welfare of the poor give concrete shape to Mahatma Gandhi's ideal of Sarvodaya,î President Murmu said.
She said India has the worldís largest young population.
ìWhat gives us special pride is that our youth possess immense talent. Our young entrepreneurs, sports-persons, scientists, and professionals are infusing new energy into the country and making their mark on the global stage. Today, a large number of our young people are presenting impressive instances of success through self-employment. Our youth are the flag bearers of our nation's development journey. ëMera Yuva Bharatí or ëMY Bharatí provides a technology-driven experiential learning mechanism to connect young citizens with opportunities in several areas, including leadership and skill development. The impressive success demonstrated by start-ups in our country is mainly driven by our young entrepreneurs. The country's development will gain momentum through policies and programs focused on the aspirations of the younger generation. I am confident that the power of youth will play a leading role in the making of Viksit Bharat by 2047,î the President said.
She said India was the worldís fastest-growing major economy.
ìDespite global uncertainties, India is recording continuous economic growth. We are moving towards achieving our goal of becoming the worldís third-largest economy in the near future,î President Murmu said.
She said that by investing in the creation of world-class infrastructure, India was rebuilding economic strength at a much larger scale.
ìIn this journey of shaping our economic destiny, Atma-nirbharata and Swadeshi are our guiding principles,î the President said.
She said that the most important decision for the economic integration of the country after independence, the implementation of GST, had established the system of ëOne Nation, One Marketí.
ìThe recent decisions to make the GST system even more effective will further strengthen our economy. Four Labour Codes have been issued in the field of labour reforms. These will benefit our workers and will also accelerate the development of enterprises,î President Murmu said.
She said that since ancient times, humanity had benefited from Indian civilisation, culture, and spiritual traditions.
ìAyurveda, Yoga, and Pranayama have been appreciated and adopted by the global community. Many great personalities have continuously enriched the stream of our spiritual and social unity. Sree Narayana Guru, the great poet, social reformer and spiritual icon born in Kerala, had said that an ideal place is one where all people live with the spirit of fraternity, free from discrimination based on caste and creed. I will try to express this thought of Sree Narayana Guru in his own words: ëJati-bhedam mat-dvesham edum-illade sarvarum; Sodara-tvena vaadunna matruka-sthana manita,íî the President said.
She said that it was a matter of pride that todayís India was moving forward with new self-confidence, conscious of its glorious traditions.
ìIn recent years, sacred sites related to our spiritual tradition have been re-connected with the peopleís consciousness,î President Murmu said.
She said that it had been resolved to eradicate the vestiges of the colonial mindset in a time-bound manner.
ìThe tradition of Indian knowledge has a great legacy in the fields of philosophy, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, literature, and art. It is a matter of pride that efforts like the ëGyan Bharatam Missioní are preserving and disseminating the creativity available in the Indian tradition. This mission will carry forward the heritage accumulated in lakhs of invaluable manuscripts of India in modern contexts. By giving emphasis to Indian languages and the tradition of Indian knowledge, we are providing a cultural foundation to our pursuit of self-reliance,î the President said.
She said that the Constitution of India was now available in all the Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule.
ìReading and understanding the Constitution in Indian languages will spread constitutional nationalism among the people and strengthen their sense of pride,î President Murmu said.
She said that the gap between the government and the people was being continuously reduced.
ìEmphasis is being placed on good governance based on mutual trust. Many unnecessary rules have been repealed, several compliance requirements have been eliminated, and systems have been simplified to help the people. Beneficiaries are being directly connected to facilities through technology. ëEase of Livingí is being emphasised with the goal of improving everyday life,î the President said.
She said that efforts had been made to achieve national goals through public participation over the past decade.
ìImportant national campaigns have been transformed into mass movements. Local institutions in every village and city have been made instruments of ushering in progressive change. Building Viksit Bharat is the shared responsibility of all citizens. Society has immense power. Revolutionary changes occur when the efforts made by the government receive active support from society. For example, our people have adopted the digital payment system on a massive scale. Today, more than half of the world's digital transactions take place in India. From buying goods at the smallest shop to paying for an auto-rickshaw ride, the use of digital payments has become an impressive example for the global community. I hope that all citizens will actively participate in achieving other national goals in a similar manner,î President Murmu said.
She said last year, India launched precision strikes against terror infrastructure through ëOperation Sindoorí.
ìTerror centres were destroyed, and many terrorists met their end. Our self-reliance in the field of defence powered the historic success of ëOperation Sindoor,íî the President said. ìAt the Siachen Base Camp, I saw our brave soldiers fully prepared and motivated to defend the country even amidst extremely challenging conditions. I also had the opportunity to fly in the Sukhoi and Rafale fighter planes of the Indian Air Force. I saw the combat readiness of the Air Force. I witnessed the extraordinary capabilities of the Indian Navyís indigenously built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. I also sortied in the submarine INS Vaghsheer. Based on the strength of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, people have complete trust in our defence-preparedness,î the President said.
She said protection of the environment was a high priority today.
ìI am proud that India has steered the global community in many areas related to the environment. A lifestyle in harmony with nature has been a part of India's cultural tradition. This lifestyle is the basis of our message to the global community: ëLifestyle for Environmentí, or ëLiFEí. Let us make efforts to ensure that Mother Earth's precious resources remain available for future generations,î President Murmu said.
She said that in Indian tradition, the country has been offering prayers for peace to prevail in the entire universe.
ìThe future of humanity can remain secure only if there is peace in the whole world. In an atmosphere marked by conflicts in many parts of the world, India is spreading the message of world peace,î the President said. ìIt is our great fortune to be living in Bharat Bhoomi. Regarding our Matri-Bhoomi, Kavi Guru Rabindranath Tagore has said: ëAmar desher mati, tomar pore thekai mathaí which means ëSacred soil of my country! I bow my head at your feet.í I believe that Republic Day is an opportunity to further strengthen this strong feeling of patriotism. Let us all work together with the spirit of 'Nation First' and make our Republic even more glorious,î the President said and extended her hearty greetings to all on Republic Day. ìI firmly believe that your life will be filled with happiness, peace, security, and harmony. I wish you all a very bright future.î
