EVERY CITIZEN HAS REASON TO BE PROUD OF INDIAN STORY: PRESIDENT

President Droupadi Murmu has said that India’s journey has inspired many other nations and every citizen has reason to be proud of the Indian story. In her address to the nation on the eve of the 74th Republic Day, President Murmu said the celebration of Republic Day is a celebration of what the people of the country have achieved together as a nation. In her first address as President on the eve of Republic Day, President Murmu said India has succeeded as a democratic republic because so many creeds and languages “have not divided us but have united us”. “From the day the Constitution came into effect to the present day, it has been an amazing journey that has inspired many other nations. Every citizen has reason to be proud of the Indian Story. When we celebrate the Republic Day, we celebrate what we have achieved, together, as a nation,” she said. The President said India is home to one of the oldest living civilisations. “India is called the mother of democracy. As a modern Republic, however, we are young. In the early years of Independence, we faced countless challenges and adversities. Very high levels of poverty and illiteracy were just two of the many ill-effects of the long foreign rule. Yet, the spirit of India was undeterred. With hope and confidence, we began an experiment unique in the history of humankind,” she said. “Such a vast and diverse multitude of people coming together as one nation remains unprecedented. We did so with a belief that we are, after all, one; that we are all Indians. We have succeeded as a democratic republic because so many creeds and so many languages have not divided us, they have only united us. That is the essence of India. That essence was at the heart of the Constitution, which has withstood the test of time,” she added. President Murmu said that women’s empowerment and gender equality are no longer mere slogans and expressed confidence that young women will do most “to shape tomorrow’s India”. “Women’s empowerment and gender equality are no longer mere slogans, as we have made great progress towards these ideals in recent years. During my visits to various states, educational institutions and while meeting delegations of various professionals, I am amazed by the confidence of young women. I have no doubt in my mind that they are the ones who will do most to shape tomorrow’s India. What miracles cannot be achieved if this half of the population is encouraged to contribute to nation-building to the best of their ability?” she said. The President said the same vision of empowerment guides the government’s approach to the marginalised communities including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.