NEW DELHI: In his first Republic Day address to the nation, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday stressed the need to have a “civic-minded” society where one can disagree with views that even have a historical context. His speech assumes significance in the backdrop of escalating row over Padmaavat.
“A civic-minded nation is built by civic-minded neighbourhoods, whether in our cities or our villages, where we respect the next-door person’s space, privacy and rights,” Kovind said.
He added that institutions should be “disciplined and morally upright”, and they are always “more important” than the individuals in office. Institutions should also respect their “fraternal relationship” with other institutions, he said.
IN HIS first Republic Day address to the nation, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday stressed on the need for having a “civic-minded” society where one can disagree with views even which had a historical context without mocking the other person’s dignity or privacy. The President’s speech assumes significance in the backdrop of the row and violence over the movie Padmaavat.
Appealing to those whose tempers have risen to feverish pitch following the release of Padmaavat, the President said, “A civic-minded nation is built by civic-minded neighbourhoods, whether in our cities or our villages. Where, we respect the next-door person’s space, privacy and rights. Where, we do not inconvenience our neighbours – while celebrating a festival or while resorting to a protest or on any other occasion. Where, one can disagree with another viewpoint – or even with a historical context – without mocking a fellow citizen’s dignity.”
Kovind said institutions should be “disciplined and morally upright”, adding they are always “more important” than the individuals in office. The institutions should also respect their “fraternal relationship” with other institutions, he added. The President spoke on this while talking about “nation building” saying, the highest stage of India’s nation-building project lay in contributing towards building “a better world, a composite and cohesive world, a world at peace with itself and at peace with nature” and in this lay the ideal spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - of the world being one family”.
The President also urged the rich to renew India’s age-old culture of philanthropy by voluntarily giving up their entitlements for those with greater need. Citing the scheme that encourages citizens to give up subsidy on cooking gas, Kovind said, “Where a better-off family voluntarily gives up an entitlement - it could be subsidised LPG today and some other entitlement tomorrow - so that another family, which has a greater need, can avail it.”
He further said there was an urgent requirement of eliminating poverty soon and to move ahead rapidly on sustainable development goals like housing for all. Kovind talked about the need for upgrading and bringing reform in the country’s education system to make it relevant to 21st-century realities. “Education transforms lives. We need to end rote learning system in schools...children must be encouraged to think creatively,” he said. The President called for “equal-opportunity” families and communities that give girls the same rights and access as boys.