Smt. Droupadi Murmu
Honourable President of India
Opening Remarks
Lokmanthan Chairman Shri G. Kishan Reddy ji, Telangana Minister Anasuya Seethakka ji, Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Dr. Mohan Bhagwat ji, Akhil Bharatiya Samyojak of Prajna Pravah Shri J. Nandakumar ji, Reception Committee Working President Dr. T. Hanuman Chowdary ji and other respected guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am very happy to inaugurate Lokmanthan. I attended the Lokmanthan programme organised in Ranchi in 2018. This effort to strengthen the threads of unity in India’s rich culture, traditions and heritage is highly commendable. I appreciate all the organisations that contributed to this event under the aegis of Prajna Pravah.
Knowing Our Rich Heritage
It is the duty of all our countrymen to deeply understand India’s cultural and intellectual heritage and to constantly strengthen our invaluable traditions. I am happy to see that all of you strengthen the feeling of cultural pride among the countrymen by organising such meaningful events. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am told that this seminar provides an effective platform for people of integrity who put the nation first and work in accordance with that belief.
Rainbow of Diversity – Bharat
When we talk about the diversity of Indian culture and unity in diversity, the feeling of unity is the main feeling. Diversity and various cultures in this diversity provide a rainbow-like beauty to our fundamental unity. Whether we are Vanvasi, Gramvasi or Nagarvasi, first and foremost we are all Bharatvasi. This feeling of national unity has kept us united despite all the challenges.
Failed Attempts at Division
Efforts have been made for centuries to divide and weaken our society in every way. Artificial distinctions have been created to break our natural unity. But, our countrymen, imbued with the spirit of Indianness, have kept the torch of national unity burning. From our medieval saint-poets to the great poets who linked India with the spirit of nationalism from North to South and East to West during the freedom struggle against British rule, all of them protected and furthered the emotional unity of India that has been going on since ancient times.
Recreating History
I am happy to know that in the Lokmanthan programmes, plays based on the life stories of great warrior women such as Punya-Shloka Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar and Rani Rudrama Devi will be staged. This will be a commendable effort to inspire the countrymen, especially the youth, with our thought of honouring the valour and women power of our country. It is also a matter of joy that in this event, cultural presentations will also be made by artists from other countries. I have been told that the subject matter of these presentations is based on the worship of the Sun God and the story of the Ramayana prevalent in foreign countries. This is proof of India’s cultural influence since ancient times.
Indo-centric World
During ancient times, the influence of Indian ideology had spread far and wide into the world. This influence is still seen in the religious and cultural traditions of those countries. Some people call this vast sphere of influence of Indian culture, ‘Indosphere’. Indosphere means a region of theworld where the life values and culture of India were dominant and are still visible today. India’s religious beliefs, art, music, technology, medical system, languages and literatures have been appreciated all over the world. First of all, Indian philosophical systems gave the gift of ideal life values to the world community. It is our responsibility to strengthen that glorious tradition of our ancestors.
Indian Arts Festival – Rashtrapati Nilayam
It is also a matter of great pleasure that craftsmen from many states will be exhibiting their art during this event. In September this year, I had the good fortune of participating in the Indian Arts Festival at Rashtrapati Nilayam in Secunderabad. Indian arts and artists add a beautiful form to our national unity.
Undermining Our Intellectual Richness
Ladies and Gentlemen, for centuries, foreign powers ruled over India. Those imperialistic and colonial powers not only exploited India economically, but also tried to destroy our social fabric. The rulers who looked down upon our rich intellectual tradition instilled a sense of cultural inferiority among our countrymen. Such traditions were imposed on us that were harmful to our unity. Due to centuries of subjugation, our countrymen became victims of the mentality of slavery. To make India the best nation again, the mentality of our countrymen will have to be threaded in the needle of unity and superiority.
Lokmanthan – Thoughtful Dialogue
This time the topic of Lokmanthan is ‘Lok observation’. In this, three important dimensions of public thinking, public behaviour and public system will be discussed. I appreciate this well-thought-out topic flow. In my opinion, to build a developed nation, it is essential to inculcate the feeling of considering the nation as supreme among all our countrymen. This feeling is being inculcated through Lokmanthan. This is a highly commendable effort towards building a developed India.
Erasing the Colonial Past
The feeling of national pride and the consciousness of moving forward by considering the nation supreme are interconnected. During the last fewyears, many examples of freedom from the mentality of slavery have been presented in the country. The Indian Civil Defense Code, Indian Judicial Code and Indian Evidence Act have been implemented in place of the laws of the 19th century. Rajpath in Delhi has been renamed as ‘Kartavya Path’. The name of the “Darbar Hall” in Rashtrapati Bhavan has been changed to “Ganatantra Mandap”.
This naming is in keeping with the ancient tradition of democracy in our country. Recently, a new statue of Lady Justice has been unveiled in the Supreme Court whose eyes are not blindfolded. All such changes are commendable examples of the elimination of colonial mentality. I am confident that the discussions in this event will also instil confidence and unity in our collective outlook. This will increase the feeling of brotherhood in the country and end social discrimination.
National Progress – Primordial Objective
Our countrymen will be able to understand that harmony has always been the basis of our civilisation. This power of harmony and unity will energise our national progress. With this belief, I wish this Lokmanthan event a grand success.
Dhanyavad! Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!
“Vanvasi, Gramvasi or Nagarvasi… we are all one Bharatvasi!”
– Smt. Droupadi Murmu
Honourable President of India
