"We are all one, and we are all Indians,": President Droupadi Murmu addresses nation ahead of 74th Republic Day

"We are all one, and we are all Indians," said President Droupadi Murmu as she addressed the nation on Wednesday ahead of the 74th Republic Day.

President Droupadi Murmu spoke at length about how the many creeds and languages in India have not divided the citizens but instead, united everyone. "That's why we have succeeded as a democratic republic. This is the essence of India...When we celebrate Republic Day, we celebrate what we have achieved, together, as a nation," she said.

"I appreciate the roles of farmers, labourers, scientists and engineers whose collective strength enables our country to move forward in the spirit of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan'," said President Murmu.

Although President Murmu expressed her gratitude to every citizen "contributing towards the progress of the country," she threw in a special word for the jawans for 'guarding the



borders' and the police for providing 'internal security to the countrymen'.

President Droupadi Murmu remembered leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, who "was a true prophet of our times, as he foresaw the calamities of indiscriminate industrialization and cautioned the world to mend its ways."

She also remembered the makers of the Constitution, especially Dr B R Ambedkar, who headed the Drafting Committee and jurist B N Rau who prepared the initia l draft of the Constitution. "We're proud of the fact that members of that assembly (Constituent Assembly) represented all regions and communities of India and that they included 15 women too..." said the President.

"India has moved from being a poor and illiterate nation to a confident nation on the world stage. This progress would not have been possible without the guidance from the collective wisdom of the framers of the Constitution," said Murmu.