Guwahati: Newly elected President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday conveyed heartfelt greetings in advance to all Indians in her first message to the nation on the eve of the 76th Independence Day.
She also paid tribute to those who perished during the 1947 division. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 14 to be Partition Horrors Remembrance Day last year.
“My heartiest greetings in advance to all Indians living in the country and abroad on the eve of the 76th Independence Day. I am delighted to address you on this momentous occasion. India is completing 75 years as an independent nation. Fourteenth August is observed as ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ so as to promote social harmony, unity and empowerment of people. Tomorrow marks the day when we had freed ourselves from the shackles of colonial rulers and decided to reshape our destiny. As all of us celebrate the anniversary of that day, we bow to all those men and women who made enormous sacrifices to make it possible for us to live in a free India,” said President Murmu in her address to the nation.
The president’s speech began at 7 o’clock on the full All India Radio (AIR) network and was televised on all Doordarshan channels in Hindi before switching to English.
“Broadcast of the address in Hindi and English on Doordarshan will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan. AIR will broadcast regional language versions at 9.30 PM on its respective regional networks,” the statement said.
The live telecast can also be viewed in the official social media handles of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
A tribal person from Odisha named Murmu, 64, took the oath of office on July 25. She is the newest and first tribal person to hold the most important constitutional position. She was born as the country’s first president.