NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the country has got new direction and inspiration from the guidance of Pranab Mukherjee as President.
He was felicitating Pranab on completing two years of his Presidency. Comparing the President to the head of a family, Modi said he too had been personally guided by Pranab after assuming office.
On the occasion, the President dedicated the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum to the Nation in a ceremony presided over by the Prime Minister. The President also inaugurated a knowledge hub in the Dr Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya and 16 service apartments which will enable an expansion of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s in-residence programme for innovators, artists and writers.
Modi also released two books titled ‘Indradhanush’ and ‘The Winged Wonders of Rashtrapati Bhawan’ during the function.
Congratulating the authors, the Prime Minister said their efforts were not mere compilations, but creations borne out of personal experiences.
About the book ‘Indradhanush’, which is on the cultural events organised in the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Modi said the art and culture of India has the potential to attract the world.
Marvelling at the richness of Indian culture, he remarked that we had a separate ‘raaga’ for different times of the day. “Art should not be dependent (rajya-aashrit) on the state, but promoted (rajya-puruskrit) by the state,” he added.
Referring to the other book the Prime Minister spoke about the importance
birds had enjoyed in India’s history, culture and mythology. He said the ‘Garuda Purana’ spoke of human values that could be gained by taking inspiration from birds. He added that the episode of ‘Jataayu’ in the Ramayana inspires us to fight against terrorism.