President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday addressed the nation on the eve of the 77th Republic Day, highlighting the pillars of India’s democracy, the legacy of national icons, and the collective efforts of citizens in building a stronger nation. She spoke about the Constitution’s ideals, the cultural and patriotic significance of Vande Mataram, and the inspiration of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.The president further talked about the achievements of women, the contributions of farmers, tribal communities, workers, and youth, as well as India’s economic growth and reforms. Here are the key quotes from her address:
On Constitution
“The ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity enshrined in our Constitution define our republic. The framers of the Constitution have provided a strong foundation for the spirit of nationalism and the unity of the country through constitutional provisions.”
On Vande Mataram
“The great nationalist poet Subramanya Bharati composed the song “Vande Mataram Yenbom”, in the Tamil language, meaning “Let us chant Vande Mataram”, and connected the masses on an even larger scale with the spirit of Vande Mataram. Translations of this song in other Indian languages also became popular. Sri Aurobindo translated this song into English. Vande Mataram, composed by the venerable Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, is our lyrical national prayer.“
On Netaji
“Two days ago, on 23rd January, the nation paid its respectful tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. Since 2021, Netaji’s Jayanti has been celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ so that the people, especially the youth, can draw inspiration from his indomitable patriotism. Netaji’s slogan ‘Jai Hind’ is the declaration of our national pride…”
On women
“Our women are breaking traditional stereotypes and forging ahead. They are actively contributing to the overall development of the country. More than ten crore women associated with self-help groups are redefining the process of development. Women are making their mark in every field, from agriculture to space, from self-employment to the armed forces. In the field of sports, our daughters have set new benchmarks globally. Last year in November, the daughters of India scripted a golden chapter in sporting history by winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and subsequently the Blind Women’s T20 World Cup. Last year, the final match of the Chess World Cup was played between two Indian women. These examples are a testament to the dominance of India’s daughters in the world of sports. The people of the country are proud of them.”
collective contribution
“The brave soldiers of our three armed forces are always vigilant to protect the motherland. Our dedicated policemen and Central Armed Police Forces personnel are always ready to ensure the internal security of our countrymen. Our farmers, the food providers, produce nutritious food for our countrymen. Our hardworking and talented women are setting new standards in many fields. Our dedicated doctors, nurses, and all health workers care for the health of our countrymen. Our dedicated sanitation workers play a key role in keeping the country clean. Our enlightened teachers shape future generations. Our world-class scientists and engineers give new directions to the country’s development. Our hardworking brothers and sisters rebuild the nation. Our promising youth and children, with their talent and contributions, strengthen our faith in the country’s bright future… Thus, all conscious and sensitive citizens are advancing the progress of our republic.”
Tribal Empowerment
“Under the ‘National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission’, more than 6 crore screenings have been conducted so far. Nearly one lakh forty thousand students are receiving education in Eklavya Model Residential Schools, and many students have performed exceptionally well in competitive examinations. Such campaigns in health and education are working to bring harmony between the traditions and modern development among the tribal communities. The ‘Dharti Aaba Janajatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan’ and the ‘PM-JANMAN Yojana’ have empowered all tribal communities, including PVTG communities.”
farmers
“Our Annadata farmers are the backbone of our society and economy. Generations of hardworking farmers have made our country self-reliant in food grains. It is due to the hard work of our farmers that we are able to export agricultural products. Many farmers have presented highly impressive examples of success. Priority is being given to ensuring that our farmers receive fair prices for their produce, access to loans at lower interest rates, effective insurance coverage, good quality seeds, irrigation facilities, fertilizers for increased production, access to modern agricultural practices, and encouragement for organic farming. The ‘PM Kisan Samman Nidhi” is honoring the contribution of our farmers and strengthening their efforts.”
Economic Growth and Reform
“India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Despite global uncertainties, India is recording continuous economic growth. We are moving towards achieving our goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy in the near future. By investing in the creation of world-class infrastructure, we are rebuilding our economic strength at a much larger scale. In this journey of shaping our economic destiny, Atma-nirbharata and Swadeshi are our guiding principles. The most important decision for the economic integration of the country after Independence, the implementation of GST, has established the system of ‘One Nation, One Market. The recent decisions to make the GST system even more effective will further strengthen our economy. Four Labor Codes have been issued in the field of labor reforms. These will benefit our workers and will also accelerate the development of enterprises.”
National voters’ day
“Today, January 25th, is celebrated as National Voters’ Day in our country. Our adult citizens enthusiastically cast their votes to elect their representatives. Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar believed that exercising the right to vote ensures political education. Our voters, in line with Babasaheb’s vision, are demonstrating their political awareness… The increasing participation of women in voting is a powerful dimension of our republic. Women being active and empowered is extremely important for the country’s development. National efforts being made for their health, education, safety, and economic empowerment have increased women’s participation in many sectors.”
Digital India
“Beneficiaries are being directly connected to facilities through technology. ‘Ease of Living’ is being emphasized with the goal of improving everyday life. Efforts have been made to achieve national goals through public participation over the past decade. Important national campaigns have been transformed into mass movements. Local institutions in every village and city have been made instruments of ushering in progressive change. Building Viksit Bharat is the shared responsibility of all citizens. Society has immense power. Revolutionary changes occur when the efforts made by the government receive active support from society. For example, our people have adopted the digital payment system on a massive scale. Today, more than half of the world’s digital transactions take place in India. From buying goods at the smallest shop to paying for an auto-rickshaw ride, the use of digital payments has become an impressive example for the global community. I hope that all citizens will actively participate in achieving other national goals in a similar manner.”
