Netaji's quest for independence and ambition to make India proud inspire people: President Kovind

New Delhi, Jan 25: President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said that the diversity and vibrancy of India's democracy is appreciated all over the world and this spirit of unity and of being one nation is celebrated every year as Republic Day. In his address on the eve of 73rd Republic Day, the President recalled the contribution of freedom fighters and said on this occasion, let us also remember the great freedom fighters who showed incomparable courage in their pursuit of the dream of Swaraj and fired up the people to fight for it. Two days ago, on 23rd January, all of us observed the one hundred twenty-fifth birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who had adopted the energising salutation of ‘Jai-Hind’. His quest for independence and his ambition to make India proud inspire all of us. The President said that we are immensely fortunate that the Constituent Assembly which prepared the document included some of the best minds of their generation. They were the leading lights of our great Freedom Struggle. After long years, the soul of India was re-awakening, and these exceptional men and women were the harbingers of a new dawn. They discussed threadbare every Article, every phrase and every word, on behalf of the people. The churning went on for close to three years. Eventually, it was Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar who, as chairman of the drafting committee, prepared the final version that has become our founding document. "It was on this day in 1950 that this sacred essence of us all assumed a formal shape. That day, India was established as the largest democratic republic and we the people put into effect a Constitution that is an inspired document of our collective vision. The diversity and vibrancy of our democracy is appreciated worldwide. It is this spirit of unity and of being one nation which is celebrated every year as Republic Day. This year's celebrations may be muted due to the pandemic, but the spirit is as strong as ever," he said. "While the text of the Constitution, dealing with the details of the workings of the State, is quite long, the Preamble sums up its guiding principles - Democracy, Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. They form the bedrock on which our Republic stands. These are the values that form our collective inheritance," he said. These values have been accorded primacy in our Constitution in the form of Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties of the citizens Rights and duties are two sides of the same coin. The observance of the Fundamental Duties mentioned in the Constitution by the citizens creates the proper environment for enjoyment of Fundamental Rights," he added. The President said by fulfilling the fundamental duty of rendering national service when called upon to do so, crores of people have transformed the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the COVID vaccination drive into mass movements. "A great deal of credit for the success of such campaigns goes to our dutiful citizens. I am sure that our people will continue to strengthen the campaigns of national interest with their active participation and will demonstrate the same dedication,” he said. The President said that the Constitution of India was enacted and adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, "which we now celebrate as Constitution Day but it was made effective two months later”. This was done to mark that day in 1930 when India resolved to win complete freedom. From 1930 to 1947 every year January 26 was celebrated as Purna Swaraj Day and that was the day chosen to put the Constitution into force. Recalling Mahatma Gandhi's words on how 'Purna Swaraj Day was to be celebrated, the President said he wanted us to look inside, introspect and strive to become better human beings, and then also look outside, join hands with others, and contribute towards the making of a better India and a better world".