PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS TO THE NATION ON THE EVE OF
India’s 71st INDEPENDENCE DAY, 2017
Dear Fellow Citizens engaged in the task
of nation building
My
greetings to you as we complete 70 years of our Independence
Our
country will be celebrating its 71st Independence Day tomorrow. On
the eve of this anniversary I extend my good wishes to all of you.
On
August 15, 1947, we became a free nation. Sovereignty and the responsibility
for our destiny moved from the British crown to the people of India. Some have
called this process a “transfer of power”.
It was
much more than that. It was the culmination of a dream for our country – a
dream seen by our forefathers and freedom fighters. We were free to imagine and
build our nation anew.
It is
crucial to understand that this dream for a free India was rooted in our
ordinary villages, in the well-being of our poor and underprivileged, and in
the all-round development of our country.
For
this we owe so much to the countless freedom fighters who made great sacrifices
to bring us here.
Chennamma,
the Rani of Kittur. Lakshmibai of Jhansi. Matangini Hazra, the heroine and
martyr of the Quit India Movement. There are so many examples.
Matangini
Hazra was an elderly woman, into her 70s. She was shot by the colonial police in
Tamluk, in Bengal, while leading a peaceful protest march. She died with “Vande
Mataram” on her lips and with the hope of a free India in her heart.
Freedom
fighters like Sardar Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil,
Ashfaqullah Khan, Birsa Munda and thousands of others gave their lives for us.
We can never forget them.
From
the earliest days of our freedom struggle, we were blessed with a galaxy of revolutionary
leaders who guided our country.
They spoke
of not just political freedom. Mahatma Gandhi emphasised the moral character of
India and of Indian society. The principles that Gandhiji spoke about are relevant
even today.
Gandhiji
was not alone in this nationwide struggle for freedom and reform. Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose exhorted our people, saying: “Give me blood and I will give you
freedom”. At his word, millions of Indians joined the freedom movement under
his leadership and gave their all.
Nehruji
emphasised that India’s age-old heritage and traditions – so dear to us – could
co-exist with technology and a quest to modernise our society.
Sardar
Patel instilled in us the importance of national unity and integrity. And of a
disciplined national character.
Babasaheb
Bhim Rao Ambedkar urged upon us the virtues of constitutional governance, of
the rule of law – and of the vital need for education.
I have
given only a few examples of illustrious leaders. I could give you many more. The
generation that brought us to freedom was diverse. They were men and women who
represented all parts of our country and a variety of political and social
thought.
We
need to draw inspiration from such brave freedom fighters, many of whom sacrificed
even their lives for the country. We need to invoke the same spirit today in the
task of nation building.
The
stress on the moral basis of policy and action, belief in unity and discipline,
faith in a synthesis of heritage and science, and promotion of the rule of law
and of education – all of it was located in a partnership between citizen and
government.
That
is how our nation has been built – by a partnership between citizen and
government, between individual and society, between a family and the wider community.
Fellow
Citizens
A
tradition I remember from my childhood was that when there was a wedding in any
one family, the entire village shared the responsibility and contributed.
Regardless of the caste or community, the bride became the daughter of not just
a single family but of the entire village.
Neighbours
and others living in the village looked after guests, and took charge of different
arrangements. Contributions came from many families. One family would send
food-grains for the wedding, another would send vegetables, a third would
arrive with some other item.
There
was a sense of caring and of sharing, and of interdependence. If you helped
your neighbours in their times of need, they instinctively helped you in turn.
Today,
in big cities we may not even know our neighbours. Whether in cities or
villages, it is important to renew that sense of caring and sharing. This will
make us a gentler and happier society and help us understand each other with
greater empathy.
Fellow
Citizens
This
spirit of empathy and of social service and volunteerism is very much alive in
India. There are so many people and organisations that work quietly and diligently
for the poor and the disadvantaged.
They
could be running schools for street children, caring for stray animals and
birds, and providing water to hard-to-reach tribal communities in remote areas.
Or cleaning rivers and public places. They are nation builders in action, and
we need to draw inspiration from them.
We
should also work with unity and purpose to ensure that the benefits of
government policies reach all sections of society. For this, the partnership
between citizens and government remains essential:
· The
government has started the Swachchh Bharat campaign – but it is for each of us
to ensure a Swachchh Bharat
· The
government is building toilets or helping build toilets – but it is for each of
us to use those toilets and make India open-defecation free
· The
government is enabling communication infrastructure – but it is for each of us
to use the Internet for the right purposes: to bridge knowledge gaps, create opportunities,
and enhance educational and information access
· The
government is promoting the idea of Beti Bachao–Beti Padhao – but it is for
each of us to ensure that our daughters are not discriminated against and get the
best education
· The
government can frame laws and strengthen law enforcement – but it is for each
of us to be a law-abiding citizen. And to build a law-abiding society
· The
government is pushing transparency and eliminating corruption in public recruitment
and procurement – but it is for each of us to answer to our inner conscience in
everyday life
· The
government is implementing GST to eliminate multiple taxes and simplify
transactions – but it is for each of us to make this an essential part of our everyday
transactions and business culture
I am
happy that the transition to the GST system has been smooth. It should be a
matter of pride for all of us that the taxes we pay are used for nation
building – to help the poor and the marginalised, to build rural and urban infrastructure,
and to strengthen our border defences.
Fellow
Citizens
In the
year 2022, our country will complete 75 years of Independence. It is our
national resolve to attain certain desired milestones for a New India by then.
When
we speak of a New India, what do we mean? There are some obvious parameters – like
a house for every family, power on demand, better roads and telecom, a modern
railway network, rapid and sustained growth.
And
yet there is more. New India must include that integral humanist component that
is in our DNA, and which has defined our country and our civilisation. New
India must be a society rushing towards the future, but also a compassionate
society.
· A
compassionate society where the traditionally disadvantaged, whether SCs, STs or
OBCs, are part of our national developmental process
· A
compassionate society where populations in our frontier areas and states, who
may sometimes feel a sense of alienation, are embraced as our brothers and
sisters
· A
compassionate society where the deprived child, the aged and the ailing senior
citizen, and the poor and the under-privileged are always in our thought – not
an afterthought. And where we take special care to ensure that our divyang
brothers and sisters get equal opportunities in all walks of life
· A
compassionate and egalitarian society that does not discriminate on gender or religious
background
· A
compassionate society that enriches our human capital and equips our young
people by promoting accessible, affordable and world-class educational
institutions. And where quality health-care and nutrition are not a challenge
It is
only with all this that we will build the New India we can cherish – where
every Indian is equipped to fulfil his or her potential and do so in a manner
that leaves each one of us content and happy. And helps each of us contribute
to society and our country.
I am
confident that a strong partnership between citizens and the government will allow
us to meet the goals of New India.
Your
immense patience and understanding in the days following demonetisation – and
your whole-hearted support in the battle against corruption and black money – reflected
a responsible and enlightened society.
Demonetisation
has boosted our efforts to build an honest society. We must sustain this spirit
and this momentum.
Fellow
Citizens
There
is also need to adopt technology. We must use technology to empower our people
and achieve the goal of poverty elimination in a single generation. Poverty and
New India are simply not compatible.
Today,
the world is looking at India with admiration. Our country is seen as a
responsible global citizen, a growing economy, and a solution provider to various
international challenges – such as climate change, disasters, conflicts,
humanitarian crises, radicalism and terrorism.
The
Tokyo Olympics of 2020 offer another opportunity for us to raise our standing
in the world’s eyes. Over the coming three years, we should absorb ourselves in
this national mission. Government agencies, sports bodies and business
enterprises need to join hands to identify and support our talented
sportspersons and provide them world-class training facilities – so that they
can be even more successful in Tokyo.
As citizens
and children of India – whether we live at home or abroad – we must ask
ourselves how we can add to our country’s pride.
Fellow
Citizens
It is
natural for us to think of our families, but we must also think of society. We
must heed the call for that extra degree of selflessness, that extra something
beyond just duty. A mother who nurtures and brings up her child is not just doing
a duty. She is displaying a unique selflessness.
· Our
soldiers who guard our borders, on a hot day in the desert or high up on a cold
mountain, are not just doing their duty. They are displaying an extra degree of
selflessness
· Our
police and paramilitary forces that brave death to combat terrorism or crime
and keep us safe are not just doing their duty. They are displaying an extra
degree of selflessness
· Our farmers
who labour under extremely tough conditions to grow food to feed fellow Indians
whom they have never met, and who live in the other corner of the country, are
not just doing a job. They are displaying an extra degree of selflessness
·
After natural disasters, so many motivated
people, civil society groups and public agencies work day-and-night in rescue
and relief operations. They display an extra degree of selflessness
Can each
of us not imbibe this spirit of selflessness?
We can
and we have.
On an appeal
from the Prime Minister, more than one crore families voluntarily gave up their
LPG fuel subsidy – so that a gas cylinder could reach the kitchen of a poorer
family of fellow Indians. And so that members of that family, particularly
women, were saved from smoke from chulhas that damaged their eyes and
lungs.
I
salute those families that gave up their subsidy. No law or government order made
them do what they did. Their response came from within.
We
should draw inspiration from these families. Each of us must find a way to give
back to society. Each of us must choose one thing we can do to help another,
less-fortunate Indian.
The
single most critical factor for building our nation is to equip our coming
generation. We need to ensure that not one child is left behind. As such I
would urge you, as fellow nation builders, to help educate less-privileged
children in our society. Help teach a child other than your own. Enrol and pay
the school fees or buy the books of at least one child other than your own.
Just one!
Our
India is at the door of great achievements. In a few years, we will become a
fully literate society. We must set the bar higher, and aim to become a fully
educated society.
We are
all stake-holders in this mission. If we achieve it, our country will change
before our eyes. And we will become agents of this defining change.
Two
thousand five hundred years ago Gautam Buddha said, “अपà¥à¤ªà¤¦à¥€à¤ªà¥‹à¤à¤µ ... Be a
lamp unto yourself …” If we follow his teachings, acting together, with the
passion of our freedom movement, we can collectively be the 125 crore lamps that
light up the path to a New India.
Once
more, I wish all of you the very best on the eve of our 71st Independence
Day.
Jai Hind
Vande Matram
