India is the mother of democracy: President Murmu on eve of 77th I-Day

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 civilisational 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 to the nation, President Murmu emphasized that each one of us is an equal citizen, each one of us has an equal opportunity, equal rights and equal duties in this land. The President asserted that there is one identity above all-- that is everyone is a citizen of India. She said that the Independence Day celebrations remind her of her childhood days.

"We could not contain our excitement of participating in the Independence Day celebrations in our village school. When the tricolour was hoisted, we felt an electrifying energy pass through us. With our hearts full of patriotic pride, we saluted the national flag and sang the national anthem. Sweets were distributed and patriotic songs were sung, which kept playing in our minds for many days," President Murmu said.

She added that she was fortunate in having an opportunity to re-live these experiences when she became a school teacher. The President added, "When we grow up, we may not remain as expressive of our joy as children are, but I am sure that the intensity of the patriotic feeling associated with the celebration of national festivals is not diminished at all. Independence Day reminds us that we are not merely individuals, but we are part of a great community of people. It happens to be the biggest and the greatest community of its kind. It is the community of the citizens of the world’s largest democracy."

"What we celebrate on Independence Day is the fact that we are part of a great democracy. 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," she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort on Tuesday morning to a 21-gun salute and then address the nation.