Ram temple landmark in re-discovery of heritage: President

“The construction of the temple commenced after the due judicial process and the decision of the highest court of the land… Now it stands as a grand edifice, giving a befitting expression not only of people’s faith but also as a testament to people’s enormous trust in the judicial process,” she said.

On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet had adopted a resolution congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the consecration ceremony, stating that while “the body of the country attained independence in 1947, the Pran Pratishtha of its soul was done on January 22, 2024,” and “everyone experienced spiritual bliss”. The resolution said Modi had fulfilled a dream that the “Indian civilisation had dreamt for five centuries”.

Hindu devotees pray on the banks of the Sarayu river before the inauguration of the Hindu Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya in India, January 22, 2024. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

On the eve of the consecration ceremony, the President had also penned a note to the Prime Minister, calling the event an uninhibited expression of the eternal soul of India. “We are fortunate to witness the commencement of a new cycle in the resurgence of our nation,” she had said.

In her televised address on Thursday evening, Murmu said her heart was filled with pride at seeing “how far we have travelled despite adversities”. “The 75th year of the Republic is truly a historic milestone in the journey of the nation in many ways. This is an especially festive occasion, just as we celebrated the unique greatness and diverse culture of our nation during the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, when we completed 75 years of Independence,” she said.

“Tomorrow is the day when we celebrate the commencement of the Constitution. Its Preamble begins with the words ‘We, the People of India’, highlighting the theme of the document, namely, democracy. In India, democratic system is much older than the concept of western democracy. That is the reason why India is called the ‘mother of democracy’,” she said.

Murmu said the country is in “the early years of Amrit Kaal, the period leading to the centenary of Independence”, the time of “an epochal transformation”. Reminding the citizens of their fundamental duties, she said: “These duties are essential obligations of every citizen towards making Bharat a developed nation when it completes 100 years of independence. Here, I think of Mahatma Gandhi who had rightly said, ‘No people have risen who thought only of rights. Only those did so who thought of duties’.”

A crowd of devotees at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Tuesday. Express Photo by Vishal Srivastav

The President also made a special mention of the birth anniversary of former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, who has been awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously, calling him the “tireless champion of social justice”. “Karpoori ji was one of the greatest advocates of backward classes who dedicated his life for their welfare. His life was a message. I pay my tribute to Karpoori ji for enriching public life through his contributions,” she said.

“Democracy implies diversity of culture, beliefs and practices. Celebrating diversity implies equality, which is upheld by justice. Freedom is what makes it all possible. The totality of these values and principles is what makes us Indian. Guided by the sagacity of B R Ambedkar, the spirit of the Constitution, imbued with these foundational values and principles, has led us invariably on the path of social justice to put an end to all kinds of discrimination,” she said.

The President also made a mention of several landmark events over the last one year, including the G20 Summit, Chandrayaan landing on the Moon and passage of the women’s Bill.

“The G20 Summit also boosted India’s emergence as the voice of the Global South, adding a necessary element to the international discourse,” she said.

Ayodhya: Large number of devotees gather to enter the Ram temple, in Ayodhya, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. The doors of the Ram temple opened to the general public on Tuesday, a day after the consecration of the new Ram Lalla idol. (PTI Photo)

On the women’s reservation Bill, she said: “When more women will be involved in matters of collective importance, our administrative priorities will be more in tune with the needs of the masses.”

And on India’s space achievements, she mentioned the proposed Gaganyaan mission, the country’s first manned space flight. “We have always been proud of our scientists and technology experts, but now they are aiming far higher than before and delivering too,” she said.

“The period of Amrit Kaal is also going to be the period of unprecedented technological changes. Technological advances like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning have moved from headlines into our daily lives at a breathtaking speed. There are numerous areas of concern in the foreseeable future, but there are also exciting opportunities ahead, especially for the youth. They are exploring new frontiers. We need to do all we can to remove hurdles from their path and let them unleash their full potential. What they want is equality of opportunity. What they want is not the same old rhetoric of equality, but the realisation of our cherished ideal of equality,” she said.

“India is moving ahead with confidence, which comes from and is also reflected by the robust health of the economy. Our GDP growth rate has remained the highest among major economies in recent years, and we have all reasons to believe that this extraordinary performance will continue in the year 2024 and beyond,” she said.

The President also spoke about the Centre’s welfare schemes. “The government has decided to provide free foodgrain to over 81 crore people for five years. This may be the biggest welfare initiative of its kind in history,” she said.

“The government has not only expanded and enhanced the welfare schemes, but has also redefined the idea of welfare itself. It will be a proud day for us all when India becomes one of those few countries where homelessness is a rarity,” she said.

Towards the end of her speech, Murmu mentioned the “conflicts that have emerged around the world and how several parts of it have been suffering from violence”. In this regard, she recalled how India has shown that non-violence “is not just an ideal that may be difficult to achieve” but “a lived reality for many” — from Mahavir to Mahatma Gandhi.