He said visiting his home during his tenure was a memorable moment. (File)
New Delhi:
Mother Nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis could jeopardize the future of this planet, outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind said in his farewell address to the nation on Sunday as he called on everyone to protect the environment for generations to come.
Ram Nath Kovind stressed that the country is preparing to make the 21st century “the century of India” and emphasized the importance of health care and education and said that, along with economic reforms, these would enable citizens to enjoy happiness after strive by discovering their potential.
President-elect Droupadi Murmu will be sworn in as the country’s 15th president on Monday.
In his last televised address to the nation, Ram Nath Kovind said: “The pandemic has underlined the need to further improve public health infrastructure. I am pleased that the government has given the highest priority to this task.
“Once education and health care are in place, economic reforms will enable citizens to find the best path for their lives,” he said, adding that “I firmly believe that our country will be equipped to face the 21st century. century of India”.
He said national education policies will go a long way in making it possible for young Indians to connect with their heritage and navigate their way into the 21st century.
The president made a special mention of the threat to the environment and asked all citizens to take care of future generations.
“Mother Nature is in deep agony and the climate crisis could jeopardize the future of this planet. We must take care of our environment, land, air and water for the sake of our children.
“In our daily lives and routine choices, we must be more careful to protect our trees, rivers, seas and mountains and all other living things. As the first citizen, if I have to give my fellow citizens one piece of advice, it must be this,” he added.
President Ram Nath Kovind also praised the trinity of ideals of liberty, equality and brotherhood, saying they should not be taken as abstractions because they are “lofty, noble and uplifting.”
Our history, not only of modern times but also of antiquity, reminds us that they are real; that they can be realized, and indeed have been realized in different eras.
“Our ancestors and founders of our modern nation exemplify the meaning of justice, freedom, equality and brotherhood with hard work and an attitude of service. We just need to follow in their footsteps and keep walking,” he said.
And what do such ideals mean for an ordinary citizen today? asked Ram Nath Kovind.
“I think the main goal is to help them discover the joy of life. For that, their basic needs must be met in the first place,” the president emphasized.
During his speech, the president went down in history to emphasize the inherent power of vibrant democratic institutions.
Ram Nath Kovind recalled his earlier days when the country had just gained independence and said, “There was a new wave of energy to rebuild the country; there were new dreams. I also had a dream, that one day I could participate in a meaningful way in this nation-building exercise”.
“A boy living in a mud house may have no idea of the highest constitutional office of the republic. But it is a testament to the strength of India’s democracy that it has created avenues for every citizen to participate in the formation of our collective fate.
“If that Ram Nath Kovind from Paraunkh village speaks to you today, it is solely due to the inherent strength of our vibrant democratic institutions,” he said.
In his farewell address on the eve of his five-year term as president, Ram Nath Kovind said that the founders of our modern nation exemplify the meaning of justice, freedom, equality and brotherhood with hard work and an attitude of service, and “we need only follow in their footsteps and keep walking”.
The president said the country is working to provide better housing and access to drinking water and electricity for every family.
“This change has been made possible by the momentum of development and good governance that knows no discrimination,” he said.
Ram Nath Kovind said the formal map for the democratic path “that we have all walked has been prepared by the Constituent Assembly” and that the constitution they have drawn up, with invaluable contributions from each of them, has been our guiding beacon.
“The values enshrined in it have been part of the Indian ethos from time immemorial,” the outgoing president said, citing the closing remarks of Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly, where he had mentioned the distinction between political and social democracy.
“What does social democracy mean? It means a way of life that recognizes liberty, equality and fraternity as the principles of life.
“These principles of liberty, equality and brotherhood should not be treated as separate items in a trinity. They constitute a union of trinity in the sense that separating one from the other negates the very purpose of democracy” Ram Nath Kovind quoted Ambedkar as saying.
President Ram Nath Kovind said that in modern times, the country’s glorious journey began with the awakening of nationalist feelings during the colonial rule and the launch of the freedom struggle.
“There were many uprisings across the country in the nineteenth century. The names of many of the heroes who brought the hope of a new dawn have long been forgotten.
“Contributions from some of them have only recently been appreciated. At the turn of the century, the different forms of struggle came together, creating a new consciousness,” he said.
When Gandhiji returned to the motherland in 1915, nationalist fervor gained momentum, Ram Nath Kovind said, naming the likes of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
“From Tilak and Gokhale to Bhagat Singh and Netaji, from Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to Sarojini Naidu and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay – nowhere in human history have so many great minds come together for a common purpose,” he said.
Ram Nath Kovind expressed his deep gratitude for all fellow citizens and elected representatives and said he was inspired and stimulated by interactions with peasants and small-town workers, teachers who shape young minds, artists who enrich our legacy, scientists who explore different facets of us. country and business examine people who create wealth for the nation.
He also mentioned doctors and nurses who serve the people, scientists and engineers who deal with nation building, judges and advocates who contribute to the country’s justice system, and officials who keep the administration running smoothly. “’Our social workers are actively connecting every social segment with development, preachers and masters of all sects who maintain the flow of spirituality in Indian society – all of you have continuously assisted me in fulfilling my duties,” he said.
“In short, I have received full cooperation, support and blessings from all walks of life. I will especially cherish the occasions when I had the opportunity to meet our brave jaws of the armed forces, paramilitary forces and the police. Their patriotic zeal is as amazing as it is inspiring,” the president said.
Referring to his interaction with the Indian diaspora during his visits abroad, Ram Nath Kovind said he found their love and concern for the homeland very moving.
“All of these reaffirm the belief that the nation is ultimately made up of its citizens; and with all of you striving to make India better and better, the great future of the nation is certain,” he said.
Ram Nath Kovind said that one of the most memorable moments of his life was visiting his home during his term and touching the feet of his teachers in Kanpur to seek their blessings.
“This year the Prime Minister also honored my village of Paraunkh with his visit. This connection with our roots has been the essence of India. I would like to request the younger generation to continue this tradition to stay connected to their village or city, their schools and teachers,” the president said.
Ram Nath Kovind claimed that he has fulfilled his responsibilities to the best of his ability and is aware of being a successor to great icons like Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. S Radhakrishnan and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, and said, “Nevertheless, when in doubt, I turned to Gandhiji and his famous talisman”.
“His advice is to picture the poorest man’s face and ask myself if the step I’m about to take will be of any use to him for a few minutes a day,” he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
