Kumar Bahukhandi
President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of Republic Day (Photo: Youtube/ @DDnews)
On the eve of Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation. She said that Republic Day connects the past, present, and future. The ideals of the Constitution have made India the world’s largest democracy. In her address, the President emphasised democracy and cultural unity.
New Delhi : On the eve of Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation. She said that the auspicious occasion of Republic Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the state and direction of our country in the past, present, and future. The course of our country changed on August 15, 1947, thanks to the freedom struggle. India became independent, and we became the architects of our national destiny.
President Murmu said, “From January 26, 1950, we began to move our republic forward in accordance with constitutional ideals. On this day, our Constitution came into full effect. The land of India, the mother of democracy, was freed from the laws and regulations of colonial rule, and our democratic republic came into existence,” President added .
Our Constitution is the foundational document of the world’s largest democratic republic. The ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution define our republic. These ideals are the spirit of the Constitution makers and the strong foundation of the country’s unity, President Murmu said .
The 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, was celebrated enthusiastically by the countrymen. Commemorative events related to his 150th birth anniversary are still being celebrated. Such celebrations further strengthen the spirit of national unity among the people.
From north to south and east to west, the fabric of our ancient cultural unity has been woven by our ancestors. This cultural unity continues to keep our democracy vibrant and connects every Indian, President noted.
President Murmu said that since November 7 last year, celebrations marking 150 years of the composition of our national song, Vande Mataram, are also being held. This song, which venerates the form of Mother India, instills patriotism in every citizen. The great national poet Subramania Bharati, through his composition in the Tamil language based on the essence of ‘Vande Mataram’, further broadened the scope of this sentiment. In this way, the spirit of Vande Mataram was deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people. Translations of this song also became popular in other Indian languages.
Sri Aurobindo translated Vande Mataram into English. Originally composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Vande Mataram is a symbol of our national reverence.
The valor and glory of this national anthem were remembered two days ago, on January 23rd, when the nation paid respectful tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. Since 2021, Netaji’s birth anniversary has been celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ (Day of Valor) so that the people of the country, especially the youth, can draw inspiration from his indomitable patriotism. The slogan ‘Jai Hind’ given by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is a declaration of our national pride, President Murmu added.
Women’s Empowerment
President Droupadi Murmu has recognised women’s empowerment as a crucial pillar in the all-round development of the country. She has made it clear that our sisters and daughters are breaking traditional stereotypes and reaching new heights in every field. Women associated with more than ten crore self-help groups in the country have written a new definition of development, demonstrating that women are now making their mark in every sector, from agriculture to space research, from self-employment to the security forces, She noted.
President Murmu specifically highlighted the achievements of women in the field of sports. Our daughters have set new benchmarks in sports like cricket and chess at the global level. Last November, the Indian women’s cricket team made history by winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and the Blind Women’s T20 World Cup. Additionally, two Indian women competed in the finals of the Chess World Cup, which is a testament to the increasing role of women in the world of sports. Jai Hind !
