- By Ashita Singh
- Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:17 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
On the eve of the 77th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation and said 'Being identified as an Indian citizen is above all'. She expressed pleasure over the festive atmosphere on the eve of Independence Day.
“Independence Day reminds us that we are not just individuals, but we are part of a great community, the largest and most vibrant of its kind. It is a community of citizens of the world's largest democracy,” President Murmu said in her address to the nation on August 14.
“Apart from caste, creed, language and region, we also have an identity associated with our family and work area. But we have one identity which is above all, and that identity of ours is being a citizen of India,” she said.
President Murmu hailed women idols and said that icons like Sarojini Naidu, Ammu Swaminathan, Rama Devi, Aruna Asaf Ali and Sucheta Kriplani have set inspiring ideals for all generations to serve the country and society with self-confidence.
Moving further, President Murmu paid tribute to the known and unknown freedom fighters whose sacrifices have made it possible for India to regain its rightful place in the comity of nations. Citing the recent launch of Chandrayaan-3, President Murmu said that the lunar mission is only a stepping stone for our future programs in space. “We have a long way to go.”
She said that the Independence Day celebrations remind her of her childhood days.
"We could not contain our excitement about participating in the Independence Day celebrations in our village school. When the tricolour was hoisted, we felt an electrifying energy pass through us. With our hearts full of patriotic pride, we saluted the national flag and sang the national anthem. Sweets were distributed and patriotic songs were sung, which kept playing in our minds for many days," President Murmu said. She added that she was fortunate in having an opportunity to relive these experiences when she became a school teacher.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort on Tuesday morning to a 21-gun salute and then address the nation