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President
Speaks
(Address by the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil
to the nation on the eve of Republic Day on January 25,
2012)
Dear Citizens,
On the eve of our 63rd
Republic Day, I convey my warmest greetings to all of you
across the country, from every walk of life and in different
parts of the world. I convey my special greetings to the
Armed Forces and the Para-Military Forces who guard our
frontiers with great vigil and valour, in high mountainous
terrains, deserts and the plains, on the coasts and the
seas. I also convey my best wishes to our internal security
forces and to our civil services. I compliment all citizens
for their contribution to the process of nation-building.
We are living in a world
that is complex and challenging. Forces of globalization
have created an interlinked and interdependent world. No
country exists in isolation; it is continuously being
influenced by external developments. All nations, developed
and developing, are facing the impact of global economic
instability, as well as problems of unemployment and
inflation, in varying degrees. Indeed, the 21st Century has
brought in its trail a host of issues at a breath-taking
pace. There are growing aspirations of the people, coupled
with their expectations of immediate solutions. We are
observing, an information explosion and ever-newer
technological inventions. These have altered lifestyles and
there is also a growing quest for materialism. There are
persistent questions about how growth and resources will be
shared in a more equitable manner. There are worries about
the direction in which the human community is heading in
this age of globalization, knowledge and technology.
For us in India, the
discourse is about how an ancient civilization and a young
nation, will move ahead to take India to its destiny. Our
vision and our goals are clear. We look at building our
country, as one whose economy demonstrates a robustness to
grow, so that we can become a developed nation. For us,
however, economic prosperity alone is not enough. We look
towards an India, where there is equity and justice. We look
at democracy, rule of law and human values, as being
essential for making our country strong. We want a
scientific and technological outlook in our people. We also
look towards India as a country which will continue to bring
moral force on to the global stage. I believe that there is
a unity behind this vision of India. But, yet, sometimes
one gets distracted by discordant pulls and pressures. How
should we proceed to build our nation and its people? I
believe that the answer lies in our age old values; the
ideals of our freedom movement; the principles of our
Constitution, as also in our unity, a positive attitude and
our aspiration to grow.
It is often said, but not
fully realized, that we are very fortunate to have a rich
legacy of values, traditions and teachings. The ageless
spirit of India, the eternal voice of India, has been
resonating through millennia. What are those intrinsic
qualities which have seen India prosper through centuries
and eras? What is the message that should light our path,
as we chart our future course? Our civilizational ethos
contains the lessons of duty and truth. It tells us to be
humane in all our thoughts and deeds. It highlights the
qualities of compassion, care and of respect for others. It
teaches that human beings and nature must exist in harmony
with each other. All issues should be viewed in the context
of humanity as a whole. Concepts, like ‘समन्वय’,
‘सर्वे
भवन्तु
सुखिनः’,
‘वसुधैव
कुटुम्बकम’,
are the very essence of Indian thought. This philosophy has
given succeeding generations the inherent strength to grow,
embracing in their fold a vast diversity of cultures,
languages, religions and communities. So, when the question
is asked, as to what ideals should be placed before the new
generation, to take the country forward, should then there
be any dithering or doubt in a country like India? As the
inheritors of thousands of years of history and culture, we
should follow the high ideals of our age-old civilization.
More particularly, the youth should understand this, as they
are the architects of the future as well. Our past becomes
the essential guide for the future as well. In this
context, I recall the lines of Gurudev Tagore, “Every great
people holds its history so valuable because… it contains
not mere memories, but hope, and therefore the image of the
future.” The past of India has been glorious and so must be
its future.
We can also draw
inspiration from our independence movement. It was a unique
struggle, as it involved non-violent methods and required
extraordinary mass discipline, steadfastness and patience.
We followed this course, under the leadership of Gandhiji,
because we had faith in ourselves and in our strength.
Surely, we can demonstrate the same discipline in nation
building. But, how do we do this? It is, only when we
resolve to make the goal of nation building more important,
than anything else and, show strong belief in it. It is then
that courage, confidence and determination, shall be our
companions in this task, which has to be carefully piloted
in a constitutionally acceptable order.
In fact, during various
times of difficulties or when searching for an answer, the
Constitution has provided us our moorings. It was framed by
those who had participated in the freedom struggle, and had
a deep understanding of the aspirations of the people, and
of our culture. The Constitution has been and should be our
compass, guiding us in nation-building. It is the charter of
our democracy. It is the document guaranteeing individual
freedoms to its citizens. It is the basis on which
institutions of the State have been created and have derived
their powers and functions. Our Constitution is a living
and dynamic instrument, which has demonstrated its ability
to be flexible enough to meet the demands of changing times,
while retaining its basic features. Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar
in his closing speech at the Constituent Assembly said, “The
first thing in my judgment we must do is to hold fast to
constitutional methods of achieving our social and economic
objectives.” Unquote.
Dear Citizens,
There is tremendous work
to be done to move forward on our social and economic
agenda, if we are to achieve fast, inclusive and sustainable
growth. Our foremost priority is the removal of poverty,
hunger and malnutrition, disease and illiteracy. All social
welfare programmes must be implemented efficiently.
Agencies involved in the delivery of services should have a
strong sense of duty and work in a transparent,
corruption-free, time-bound and accountable manner.
We have a population
which is predominantly young. With education and training,
they can become skilled and, thus, capable of finding their
livelihoods, starting their own businesses and thus,
becoming productive assets. Reinforcing our health and
education sectors is fundamental for developing our human
resources. Primary education is now a fundamental right for
children. There is a commitment to universalize secondary
education. Expansion of school education will also require
increase in the number of higher education institutions.
This process has to be structured with great thoughtfulness,
to ensure quality and excellence. Moreover, education must
reach every section of our society, as must access to health
reach all. We need to expand health services, particularly
in rural areas. We need quality medical facilities for our
population, which are affordable. In today's era of ICT,
technology can be very useful in our mission of health and
education. In fact, science and technology is a critical
input for the growth of the nation and for all sectors of
the economy. Focus on research and development is an
investment in our future. Our agriculture, industry and
service sectors need to be working more efficiently, with
greater scientific inputs and more inter-linkages with each
other. Agriculture, however, is one sector whose
integration with other sectors of the economy remains
inadequate. We need to look at models of partnership, of
farmers with industry and with R&D institutions in various
activities, so that, not only does agricultural productivity
increase, but farmers benefit as well. Special focus is
necessary on dryland farming, given its enormous potential
and, the fact that, a large proportion of farm labour and
poor farmers are dependent on it. At the same time, it is
very important to build our physical infrastructure – such
as roads, ports and airports, to overcome constraints to
rapid growth.
I strongly believe that
women need to be drawn fully into the national mainstream.
Empowerment of women will have a very big impact on creating
social structures that are stable. The National Mission on
Empowerment of Women set up in 2010, should help in the
co-coordinated delivery of women-centric and women-related
programmes. An important component of women’s development is
their economic and social security. Social prejudices
prevalent in our society which have led to gender
discrimination need to be corrected. Social evils like
female foeticide, child marriage and dowry must be
eradicated. Status of women is an important indicator of
progress in a society.
Dear Citizens,
India can take pride in
its democratic record, but as in any functional democracy,
it faces pressures and challenges. An important feature of
a democracy is the constant expression of opinions. This
process of incessant dialogue should flow in such a manner,
that we are willing to listen to each other. Those who
believe in democracy must try to see whether there is
rationale in the others’ point of view. Gandhiji once said,
“Evolution of democracy is not possible if we are not
prepared to hear the other side. We shut the doors of
reason when we refuse to listen.” The purpose of discussions
and deliberations is to find solutions. Often, we are quick
to find blame with others; but, yet are unable to give
constructive responses. There seems to be a tendency to
doubt almost everything. Do we not have faith in our own
people’s strengths and in our institutions? Can we afford
distrust amongst ourselves? Nations are built through great
patience and sacrifices. Concord and not discord is the way
forward for a country as large as India. All issues,
therefore, must be resolved through dialogue and there can
be no place for violence. Negativity and rejection cannot be
the path for a vibrant country that is moving to seek its
destiny. Our work, our values and our approach, must be
based on the vast capability and capacity that India and its
people have.
Our institutions may not
be flawless, but they have coped with many challenges. Our
Parliament has enacted path-breaking laws. Our Government
has put together schemes for the progress and welfare of the
people. Our judiciary has a reputable standing. Our media
too has played an important role. With all institutions
working together for the same national purpose it will
create a stream of positive energy. Our effort to improve is
an on-going process. While bringing about reforms and
improving institutions, we have to be cautious that while
shaking the tree to remove the bad fruit, we do not bring
down the tree itself. There will be short term pressures,
but in this process we must not lose sight of the long term
goals, and must work together on our core national agenda. I
do hope in the spirit of national interest, matters of
national importance, are discussed and solutions are found
between different stakeholders. This will strengthen the
roots of our democracy and the foundations of our nation. We
have a shared future, and we should not forget that it can
be achieved if we demonstrate a sense of responsibility and
a show of unity. I think India could set an example before
the democratic world of progress and growth.
Dear Citizens,
India’s foreign policy is
aimed at the promotion of an environment that is conducive
to its socio-economic transformation. We seek to build
bridges of cooperation and friendship with all countries of
the world. We constructively engage with the international
community to find responses to global challenges. The role
and stature of India, has been growing and our nation has
been scaling up in the ladder of the comity of nations.
India seeks an architecture for global institutions that is
more reflective of contemporary realities. We are also
proud of the contributions of the Indian Diaspora, spread
over many countries and across continents, to the economic,
professional and political fields of the countries where
they live.
Dear Citizens,
In conclusion, I would
like to say that we must build a strong, prosperous nation,
based upon a firm system of values. As we remove poverty,
let us also enrich our thoughts. As we remove disease, let
us all remove ill-will towards others. As our youth study
more and acquire more knowledge, let them also learn to be
more involved in activities for the progress of the nation,
other than only self advancement. As we legislate, let us
also understand that the most effective law is the
conscience of citizens. As we advance in science and
technology, let us realize and understand that it is more
for human welfare. As we use the Earth’s resources, let us
not forget to replenish and renew its vitality. On the eve
of our Republic Day, let me once again convey my greetings,
to all fellow citizens and end with the following lines
which describe an India we should work for: |
