India is the mother of democracy: President Droupadi Murmu

 ‘Economic empowerment of women is being given special focus in our country’

NEW DELHI: Addressing the nation on the eve of the 77th Independence Day celebrations, President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said that India is the mother of democracy and the country's “shining example of truth and non-violence has been successfully employed in many political struggles around the world”.

The President said that India had democratic institutions functioning at the grassroots since “ancient times”, but long years of colonial rule wiped them out. “India is the Mother of Democracy and since ancient times we had democratic institutions functioning at the grassroots. But long years of colonial rule wiped them out. On August 15, 1947, the nation woke up to a new dawn. We not only won freedom from foreign rule, but also the freedom to rewrite our destiny,” President Murmu said.

“With our Independence began the era of foreign rulers withdrawing from many colonies and colonialism drew close to its end. What is special about our freedom struggle is not only the fact that its objective was achieved, but also how it was fought. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and a galaxy of extraordinary visionary leaders, our national movement was animated by a unique set of ideals. Gandhiji and others re-kindled the soul of India and helped the nation rediscover its civilizational values,” the President said.

She added, “Following India's shining example, 'truth and non- violence', the cornerstone of our resistance, have been successfully employed in many political struggles around the world.”

In her address, President Murmu emphasized equality. “Each of us has many identities - apart from caste, creed, language and region, we are also identified with our families and professions - but there is one identity that is above all. That is our identity as citizens of India. Each one of us is an equal citizen; each one of us has an equal opportunity, equal rights and equal duties, in this land.”

Hailing the contribution of the women freedom fighters, President Murmu said that the country is giving emphasis to economic empowerment of women that strengthens their position in the family and society. “I am happy to note that the economic empowerment of women is being given special focus in our country. Economic empowerment strengthens the position of women in the family and society,” the President said.

“On the eve of Independence Day, I join my fellow citizens in paying grateful tribute to the known and unknown freedom fighters whose sacrifices have made it possible for India to regain its rightful place in the comity of nations,” she said.

Speaking about the sacrifice of women freedom fighters, President Murmu said, “Great women freedom fighters like Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Baruah laid down their lives for Bharat-Mata. Maa Kasturba matched the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi every step of the way on the difficult path of Satyagraha. Many great women leaders like Sarojini Naidu, Ammu Swaminathan, Rama Devi, Aruna Asaf-Ali and Sucheta Kriplani had set inspiring ideals for all future generations of women, to serve the nation and the society with self-confidence.”

The President said that women are contributing in every field of development and have made their place in many fields in which their participation was unimaginable decades ago. “Today, women are contributing extensively in every field of development and service to the country and are enhancing the nation's pride. Today our women have made their special place in many such fields in which their participation was unimaginable a few decades ago.”

Noting that women's empowerment was among the ideals of the country's freedom struggle, President Murmu urged her fellow citizens to prioritize on the independence of women. “I urge all fellow citizens to give priority to women empowerment. I would like our sisters and daughters to overcome challenges with courage and move ahead in life. Development of women was among the ideals of our freedom struggle.”

“Our country has entered the Amrit Kaal with new resolutions and we are moving forward towards making India an inclusive and developed nation by the year 2047. Let us all take a pledge to perform our fundamental duty to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement,” said the President. (ANI and PIB release)

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