I stand here as the Republic’s first servant: President Pratibha Patil

Pratibha Patil was sworn in as India’s first woman President, describing herself as the Republic’s “first servant” and pledging to live up to the “high expectations of the people who elected her and serve the best interests of the people”.

Pratibha Patil was today sworn in as India’s first woman President, describing herself as the Republic’s “first servant” and pledging to live up to the “high expectations of the people who elected her and serve the best interests of the people”.

In a brief address after becoming the 12th President, Patil, 72, said: “I am fully aware of the great responsibility that has been placed on my humble shoulders.”

She called for socially inclusive economic growth and unity in the fight against divisive forces like communalism. “It should be our combined endeavour to sustain this (economic) growth and ensure that it is socially inclusive. We must ensure that every section of our society — particularly the weak and the disadvantaged — are equal partners in and beneficiaries of the development process,” she said at the lavish event marked by a 21-gun salute.

The new Head of the State spoke about the child’s right and empowerment of women, saying this would lead to empowerment of the nation. Patil said she would like to see every person, man and woman, boy and girl, “be touched by the light of modern education”.

Patil said she was committed to the protection of child rights and the country “must wage a relentless campaign against poverty, ignorance and disease to seek a better future for our children”.

The new President sent out a message of unity to serve the people who “desired better governance, faster development and a life of peace and security”.

“We must all stand united in the fight against such divisive and destructive tendencies as communalism, casteism, extremism and terrorism,” Patil said.

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The ceremony was full of pomp and solemnity. Patil took the oath in English. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former prime ministers Atal Behari

Vajpayee and Inder Kumar Gujral, Union ministers, governors and several chief ministers of various states attended the ceremony.

Acting on his word that the BJP would accord full respect to the office of President, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani joined the ceremony along with other party leaders.

Patil’s husband Devi Singh Shekhawat, family members and friends from Jalgaon watched the proceedings from the gallery.