Top 3 Most Inspiring 26th January Republic Day Speech By Presidents Of India

On 26^th January 2014, we will be celebrating our 65^th Indian Republic Day and we would have Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe as the Chief Guest. We celebrate Republic day because our constitution came into effect from 26^th January 1950 and the announcement of Purna Swaraj was announced on this day.

Here we present the transcript of best inspiring speeches of Republic Day by Indian Presidents till date:

1) Speech of Pranab Mukherjee on Republic Day 2013:

My Fellow Citizens:

On the eve of our 64th Republic Day, I extend warm greetings to all of you in India and abroad. I convey my special greetings to members of our armed forces, paramilitary forces and internal security forces.

India has changed more in last six decades than in six previous centuries. This is neither accidental nor providential; history shifts its pace when touched by vision. The great dream of raising a new India from the ashes of colonialism reached a historic denouement in 1947; more important, independence became a turning point for an equally dramatic narrative, nation-building. The foundations were laid through our Constitution, adopted on 26 January 1950, which we celebrate each year as Republic Day. Its driving principle was a compact between state and citizen, a powerful public-private partnership nourished by justice, liberty and equality.

India did not win freedom from the British in order to deny freedom to Indians. The Constitution represented a second liberation, this time from the stranglehold of traditional inequity in gender, caste, community, along with other fetters that had chained us for too long.

This inspired a Cultural Evolution which put Indian society on the track to modernity: society changed in a gradual evolution, for violent revolution is not the Indian way. Change across the knotted weaves of the social fabric remains a work in progress, impelled by periodic reform in law and the momentum of popular will.

In the last six decades there is much that we can be proud of. Our economic growth rate has more than tripled. The literacy rate has increased by over four times. After having attained self sufficiency, now we are net exporters of food-grain. Significant reduction in the incidence of poverty has been achieved. Among our other major achievements is the drive towards gender equality.

No one suggested this would be easy. The difficulties that accompanied the first quantum leap, the Hindu code bill, enacted in 1955 tell their own story. It needed the unflinching commitment of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Babasaheb Ambedkar to push through this remarkable legislation. Jawaharlal Nehru would later describe this as perhaps the most important achievement of his life.

The time has now come to ensure gender equality for every Indian woman. We can neither evade nor abandon this national commitment, for the price of neglect will be high. Vested interests do not surrender easily. The civil society and the government must work together to fulfill this national goal.

Fellow Citizens:

I speak to you when a grave tragedy has shattered complacency. The brutal rape and murder of a young woman, a woman who was symbol of all that new India strives to be, has left our hearts empty and our minds in turmoil. We lost more than a valuable life; we lost a dream.

If today young Indians feel outraged, can we blame our youth?

There is a law of the land. But there is also a higher law. The sanctity of a woman is a directive principle of that larger edifice called Indian civilization. The Vedas say that there is more than one kind of mother: birth mother, a guru’s wife, a king’s wife, a priest’s wife, she who nurses us, and our motherland. Mother is our protection from evil and oppression, our symbol of life and prosperity. When we brutalise a woman, we wound the soul of our civilization.

It is time for the nation to reset its moral compass. Nothing should be allowed to spur cynicism, as cynicism is blind to morality. We must look deep into our conscience and find out where we have faltered. The solutions to problems have to be found through discussion and conciliation of views. People must believe that governance is an instrument for good and for that, we must ensure good governance.

Fellow Citizens:

We are on the cusp of another generational change; the youth of India spread across villages and towns, are in the vanguard of change. The future belongs to them. They are today troubled by a range of existential doubts. Does the system offer due reward for merit? Have the powerful lost their Dharma in pursuit of greed? Has corruption overtaken morality in public life? Does our legislature reflect emerging India or does it need radical reforms?

These doubts have to be set at rest. Elected representatives must win back the confidence of the people. The anxiety and restlessness of youth has to be channelized towards change with speed, dignity and order.

The young cannot dream on an empty stomach. They must have jobs capable of serving their own as well as the nation’s ambitions. It is true that we have come a long way from 1947, when our first Budget had a revenue of just over Rs.171 crore. The resource base of the Union government today is an ocean compared to that drop. But we must ensure that the fruits of economic growth do not become the monopoly of the privileged at the peak of a pyramid. The primary purpose of wealth creation must be to drive out the evil of hunger, deprivation and marginal subsistence from the base of our expanding population.

Fellow Citizens:

Last year has been a testing time for us all. As we move ahead on the path of economic reforms, we must remain alive to the persisting problems of market-dependent economies. Many rich nations are now trapped by a culture of entitlement without social obligations; we must avoid this trap. The results of our policies should be seen in our villages, farms and factories, schools and hospitals.

Figures mean nothing to those who do not benefit from them. We must act immediately, otherwise the current pockets of conflict, often described as “Naxalite” violence, could acquire far more dangerous dimensions.

Fellow Citizens:

In the recent past, we have seen serious atrocities on the Line of Control on our troops. Neighbours may have disagreements; tension can be a subtext of frontiers. But sponsorship of terrorism through non-state actors is a matter of deep concern to the entire nation. We believe in peace on the border and are always ready to offer a hand in the hope of friendship. But this hand should not be taken for granted.

Fellow Citizens:

India’s most impregnable asset is self-belief. Each challenge becomes an opportunity to strengthen our resolve to achieve unprecedented economic growth and social stability. Such resolve must be nourished by an avalanche of investment, particularly in better and greater education. Education is the ladder that can help those at the bottom to rise to the pinnacles of professional and social status. Education is the mantra that can transform our economic fortunes and eliminate the gaps that have made our society unequal. So far education has not reached, to the extent desired, to those most in need of this ladder. India can double its growth rate by turning today’s disadvantaged into multiple engines of economic development.

On our 64th Republic Day, there may be some reason for concern, but none for despair. If India has changed more in six decades than six previous centuries, then I promise you that it will change more in the next ten years than in the previous sixty. India’s enduring vitality is at work.

Even the British sensed that they were leaving a land which was very different from the one they had occupied. At the base of the Jaipur Column in Rashtrapati Bhavan there is an inscription:

“In thought faith…

In word wisdom…

In deed courage…

In life service…

So may India be great”

The spirit of India is written in stone.

JAI HIND!

2) Speech of Pratibha Patil on Republic Day 2011:

My Fellow Citizens,

On the eve of our 62nd Republic Day, I extend my warmest greetings to all of you across the country and also to those living abroad.

I convey my special greetings to the members of our Armed Forces and Para-Military Forces, who guard our frontiers and to our internal security forces. I also compliment every citizen from every walk of life for contributing to the process of nation-building.

26th January is a very significant date in our nation’s calendar, when we celebrate the establishment of free India as a Republic based on the ideology of justice and equality.

It is a day when we recall with gratitude the sacrifices of our freedom fighters and the work of our Founding Fathers, for giving to us a country where our dignity and individual freedoms are guaranteed by an enlightened Constitution. It must also be an occasion when we rededicate ourselves to maintaining harmony, peace and brotherhood. Most of all, it is a time to introspect about how we have fared so far, and in which direction are we moving.

For our achievements, the foremost credit goes to the drive and the dedicated hard work of millions of men and women of our country. We are witness to the increasing influence of India and its steady economic growth that has brought prosperity to an increasing number of people. We can be proud of our successes, but there are many significant tasks that are yet to be accomplished, in particular the pledge to empower the poor and the marginalized sections of our population so that they too can become a part of the growth story of our nation.

Dear Citizens,

We are fortunate that we are the inheritors of the ideals and values of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, which has bequeathed to us a rich treasure of human experiences and thought. The concept of the human race being one, the importance of living in harmony with each other and with nature, the quest for knowledge and truth, find prominence in our age old culture.

These ideas provided inspiration for our freedom movement and after our independence found a ready resonance in our Constitution. As citizens of this country each one of us, therefore, has a duty and a responsibility to demonstrate, that these principles have given to us the motivation and the strength to build our great nation.

It is, however, a fact that there can be no society which does not need to evolve to cope with the changing demands of time; and there can be no nation which does not face challenges. India too has its share of problems and obstacles, constraints and difficulties. We cannot evade these or wish them away, but working in different fields, we must together find solutions.

The strength of a nation is not determined by the challenges it faces, but by its responses to these challenges, especially so when it stands at a critical juncture and at a decisive point. What we do in this coming decade in terms of leveraging our advantages and addressing our shortcomings, will shape the destiny of the nation.

Wherever course correction is required, it must be undertaken unhesitatingly and with urgency. There should be national consensus on critical national goals. Among such goals, eradication of poverty, empowerment of women, access to quality education and affordable health facilities are essential for building human resources. Apart from this, civic discipline, the readiness of people to work with dedication and integrity can make an enormously positive impact.

Dear Citizens,

Among our remarkable accomplishments has been an unwavering adherence to democracy. The people of India have expressed their confidence by participating time and again in the electoral processes. For us, democracy is an article of faith, important both as a basic pillar of our Republic and as a guarantor of our freedoms. Its sustenance is essential for the identity of India, hailed as the largest democracy in the world, and one that functions well even in situations of multiple complexities.

We must not only reinforce democratic institutions and processes, but also refrain from any action, taken wittingly or unwittingly, that dilutes or is detrimental to democracy.

The Parliament of the country is the repository of the sovereign will of the people, and its successful functioning is a joint responsibility of both the Government and the Opposition. It is important that the decorum and dignity of the House is upheld at all times.

The image of Parliament in the public mind should be one where proceedings, debates and discussions take place with a view to resolve issues through a constructive and co-operative approach. If this does not happen, people’s faith in democratic institutions can be affected, resulting in a feeling of despondency which is unacceptable in a healthy democracy, as it may derail democratic institutions.

Hence, dialogue among stakeholders in democratic institutions is an integral part of democratic working.

The time has come for us to take a closer look at our social milieu. Is there growing criminalization of our society? Is there increasing apathy towards each other? Are we becoming too materialistic, shortsighted and unconcerned about the impact of our actions on our brethren, society or the environment?

It is a matter of anguish and great concern when a person is killed for a petty sum of money; or when a woman is raped because she protests against being teased; or when over small incidents, due to lack of patience, there is a quick flaring of tempers.

Cases of ragging in educational institutions are also disturbing. Ragging is violence. It is heinous and should not be tolerated, for it can cause irreparable loss to the parents and to the country. Our social fabric is deeply damaged by such incidents and it is essential that these tendencies are curbed in the interest of social harmony and cohesion. I appeal to my fellow citizens to never resort to violence.

Our nation won its freedom by travelling on the high path of non-violence and truth. In our journey as an independent nation too, we must adhere to it and demonstrate moral courage. Societies evolve in a positive direction when people work to bring about constructive changes and to eliminate social evils. In my first address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day in 2008, I had spoken on the need for social, economic, administrative and political activities to be carried out on the basis of moral values and social justice.

I reiterate the great importance of integrity, honesty, good conduct and high values, which our culture teaches us.

The youth of our country must carry forward this legacy. As the architects of the future of the country, their upbringing with a value-based education is paramount in the development of their character. It is said that the first teacher of the child is the mother when the child is of tender age, and the next is the primary school teacher. Both make lasting impressions on children in their formative years. In primary schools, teachers are doing good work.

We should regularly assess issues relating to training of teachers and quality of education including checking instances of absenteeism of teachers. In addition, our special efforts to reach out to students from tribal and remote areas, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward communities must be augmented.

Our endeavour should be to create a level playing field in educational competitiveness so that students from all sections of society can enter premier institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institutes of Management.

Dear Citizens,

As a nation, our aim is to grow and to create a just society. Our goal of poverty eradication and of inclusive growth that embraces the disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society can be achieved when our actions are guided by a social conscience and are not devoid of sensitivity. We are seeking good governance and a people-centric administration. In this, callous and casual attitudes in the sphere of public service are unacceptable.

Delivery systems for schemes and programmes that promote the welfare of the people and spur economic growth should have inbuilt mechanisms for greater transparency and accountability. Education, health and skill building efforts will create productive human resources for the future. Urban and rural development schemes will make our cities and villages sustainable habitats.

Programmes for women, the youth, the girl child, the differently-abled and marginalized sections of society will equip them to avail of opportunities and face the future with confidence. We need to address the problems of orphans and street children, as well as of the old and destitute.

For the success of welfare schemes, the total sum of developmental funds must reach the intended beneficiaries. Corruption is the enemy of development and of good governance. Instead of getting lost in this mire, it is necessary to rise above it and seriously look at bringing systemic changes to deal more effectively with corruption.

Financial institutions, the corporate world and civil society – all must uphold high standards of probity in their working. Only a genuine partnership between the Government and its people can bring about positive change to create a just society.

The media plays an important role in bringing information, news and views to the public. This generates awareness, promotes discussion on issues and creates perceptions. There are numerous examples of outstanding conduct in the country where good samaritans are rendering yeoman service to society, some civil society organizations are putting in selfless work in the field as are some philanthropists, scientists and educationalists doing pioneering work.

By highlighting such actions the media can inspire others to follow good examples, and I would urge the media to work in a positive spirit, as it expands its reach and coverage.

A responsive and responsible media is an asset in maintaining the vitality of democracy and its institutions.

Fellow citizens,

It is heartening that our economy is progressing at a stable pace and that even in the face of difficult circumstances during the global financial downturn, its performance was appreciable. We are now returning to the pre-crisis growth pattern and are confident of growing at over 9 percent next year. All sectors of the economy will be contributors to our growth trajectory.

However, rising inflation particularly food prices, are a cause of serious concern and draw attention to the urgent need to take suitable action, and also look at more innovative approaches towards food security, agricultural production and rural development.

The Green Revolution which made our nation self sufficient in foodgrains has run its course. We need a Second Green Revolution that maximizes productivity, and yet generates income and employment opportunities for the rural population. The First Green Revolution was almost confined to irrigated areas, and now we should also focus on rain fed areas, which could become the cradle for the Second Green Revolution.

We should bear in mind that our agricultural holdings are fragmented, small and are likely to further decrease in size; making economic viability of farming a big issue. It is said that small farmers are leaving farming, because of poor returns and scarcity of agricultural labour. In such a situation, it would be advantageous to think of modernization and mechanized farming, and there should be deliberations on evolving suitable models for partnerships between farmers, private sector and the Government in agriculture and rural development.

In any arrangement, it should be kept in mind that farmers are stakeholders in every aspect related to agriculture, whether it is cultivation related activities, warehousing, processing, marketing, research or development. Farmers, therefore, must be involved in all these various activities, with a sensitivity that safeguards their rights on their land and its produce. The corporate sector should take up responsibility to make agriculture productivity remunerative, particularly in rain fed farming areas, as food security is of prime importance for our country.

Every year there is drought in some or the other part of the country. A national campaign for foodgrain productivity should be undertaken to create awareness about sustainable food production for food security in every State and in every block.

Similarly, national planning for integrated production, particularly of foodgrains like cereals, oilseeds and pulses is needed and should be implemented, given that our population in the next 20 years is likely to become 148 crore. Each State should, as far as possible and as per local conditions, try to produce food grains required by it. This will result in saving transport and storage costs, as also prevent wastage during transport and handling, besides helping in quicker distribution of foodgrains.

In agriculture as in all other fields we need innovations more than ever before. This decade has been designated as the ‘Decade of Innovation’ in India. Our scientists and researchers have the talent and the capacity to look at high-end technology as also at cost-effective, location-specific and affordable innovations for wider use in the country.

Access to innovations is an integral part of their practical use. In a situation of rapidly moving global knowledge economy, our pace of research must accelerate. Larger funds should be allocated for science and technology so that such scientists can undertake in depth research in a wide range of subjects.

Development and progress require an environment of stability and security. The work of our police and internal security agencies is critical in this field, as also is our cooperation and dialogue with our neighbours for stability in our region, and with the international community to create a peaceful world. Terrorism poses the single most detrimental threat to the progress of humankind. There is a crucial need for concerted action by all members of the international community to eradicate the threat of terrorism. India’s profile in global affairs is the focus of international attention today.

As India assumes its seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, it will intensify efforts to effect concerted and collective global action against terrorism, and will also work with a deep sense of responsibility on all global issues.

Fellow Citizens,

Many developments in the last few years have brought to our attention the importance of united action to achieve our goals besides emphasizing the need to continue to adhere to the basic values of our country. Here, I am reminded of some lines of a well-known poem:-

Speech

Which means:-

Compassion, non-violence, goodwill

May always flow in unison.

With these words, I once again greet all fellow citizens on the occasion of Republic Day.

Jai Hind!

3) Speech of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on Republic Day 2007:

In the eighties, children always used to ask me questions such
as “When can I sing the Song of India?”  Today, the youth are asking
me, “What I can give to India?” This shows that the nation is on a
positive growth trajectory. The change in pattern of the questions is
indicative of the transformation which has taken place over the years.
Also, I receive many e-mails and letters asking me “what I can give to
India, my country?”

When I study the letters, messages and mails that I have
received and also the personal interactions with the people, I can
clearly see abundant opportunities in which every citizen can
contribute. I thought of sharing this with you: My topic of this
address will be — “What can I give to my nation?

In Indian history, our nation has come across a situation, all
at a time, an ascending economic trajectory, continuously rising
foreign exchange reserves, increasing domestic investment with
investors’ confidence rising steadily, global successes of Indian
managerial and entrepreneurial talents, global recognition of
technological competence, energy of 540 million youth, umbilical
connectivities of more than 25 million people of Indian origin in
various parts of the planet and the interest shown by many developed
countries to invest in our engineers and scientists through setting up
of new Research and Development Centres in India. The distinction
between the public and the private sectors and the illusory primacy of
one over the other is vanishing.  Also, there is a trend that many
young people are opting for creating new enterprises instead of being
mere employees.

Providing leadership for the one billion people with
multi-cultural, multi-language and multi-religious backgrounds is
indeed the core competence of our nation. Our technological competence
and value systems with civilisational heritage are highly respected by
the world community.  Also, Foreign Institutional Investors find
investing in India attractive as the returns are high and assured.

Indian industrialists are also investing abroad and opening
new business ventures. Our Gross Domestic Product which stands at U.S.
$ seven hundred and twenty 9 billion is poised to grow at 10 per cent
annually which along with various other concurrent actions, will
enhance the welfare of farmers, workers, professionals and unleash
creativity of entrepreneurs, business persons, scientists, engineers
and all other constituents  of society.

Today due to the open sky policy and competitiveness air
travel has become affordable for the growing middle class. The
Railways have introduced many improvements and people can book tickets
through the Internet. The revolution in travel has not only connected
people but also boosted tourism and the economy. Tele-density in the
country has gone up to 18 per cent.

Mobile telephones are reaching the common man and serving
their needs. The one India plan has made calling across the country
easy and affordable. Our ICT sector is exporting more than $24 billion
and the Indian Pharma industry is ranked 4th in the world and exports
nearly $4 billion of products. Our $44 billion automobile industry is
growing at the rate of 17 per cent per annum. Our total exports in the
last 8 months has crossed U.S. $ eighty billion.

Our aerospace and aeronautical achievements are commendable.
Six remote sensing satellites of various resolutions and spectral
bands are providing valuable services in monitoring and management of
natural resources. These have been further complemented with
CARTOSAT-II launched on 10th January 2007 by PSLV-C7 along with the
Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE) and two other foreign
satellites.  The SRE after performing micro gravity experiments in
orbit,  has since been successfully recovered in Indian waters,
leading to another technological milestone.

Today, we have nine geo-stationary satellites in orbit
including an exclusive EDUSAT for education.  The country has
successfully used advances in space technology and telecommunication
towards creating tele-education as well as  tele-medicine networks and
village resource centres. SAKSHAT: The One Stop Education Portal has
been launched by the Government to serve the quality education needs
of 11th and 12th class students spread in any part of the country.
Broadband has reached up to the block level in all the Districts.
Students from abroad are coming to India for academic programmes,
training and internship and many foreign institutions have started
collaborating with Indian universities and academic institutions.
India’s experience has resulted in providing the Pan African e-Network
connecting 53 countries.

The country has operationalised two strategic missile systems.
A state-of-the-art super sonic cruise missile system has also entered
into commercial production with an international partner.

The number of people living below poverty line has come down
to 22 percent and our literacy rate will soon touch 75 percent. Our
unemployment is around 9 percent of the employable population of 400
million people. The Central Government has launched comprehensive
rural development programmes called Bharat Nirman Programme,
Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission and Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme with substantial outlays for bringing the fruits of development
equitably to all sections of society irrespective of where they
reside. Implementation of PURA programmes has been undertaken by
number of state governments and private institutions in the country
resulting in a number of operational PURAs.

The Central government is planning to introduce two PURA
Clusters in each district across the country as a first phase. People
from all walks of life can be guiding forces and they can be partners
in executing national development programmes and ushering in a good
way of life. The State Governments have also launched a number of
missions including rural and infrastructure development activities
towards realising the goals of Vision 2020.

Against this backdrop, I would like to discuss with you the
ambience in 2020 for which we as a nation have to  work.

If we perform in an integrated way with development politics
as the focus, in mission mode with transparency, I visualise even
before the year 2020, that a prosperous India is possible.

We expect the people below the poverty line to come to near
zero and our literacy must be nearly 100 percent. The Human
Development Index of India will be less than 50 against the present
127. Every Indian will have either a good university degree or quality
training with globally competitive employable vocational skills.
E-governance would be in position for all Government to Government
(G2G) and Government to Citizens (G2C) transactions making the
governance system transparent with the National ID card in position.

Tele-density will reach over 75 percent. All our villages will
have reliable, uninterrupted quality electric power supply. The
interlinking of rivers and water bodies and use of technology for
water collection, water recycling and water management will result in
equitable distribution of water for drinking, irrigation, industry,
navigation and as natural beauty.

There will be no shortage of water in any part of the country
nor will there be disasters due to floods, water logging etc. India
would have realised energy security and will be working towards energy
independence. Good sanitation facilities  will be available at homes
in every part of India and for all Indians and tourists. We will be
using more of renewable energy such as solar energy, wind power,
bio-mass, mini and micro hydel and thorium based nuclear reactors,
adding less to the pollution.

Through responsive and innovative venture capital systems and
entrepreneurial training both in schools and colleges, we will have
more enterprises leading to a large number of employment generators
rather than employment seekers. A pro-active healthcare system
delivered through innovative schemes will provide quality healthcare
access at an affordable cost to all the people of the country
including those living in remote areas.    Everyone will have an
opportunity to take up and complete courses of choice in higher
education.

I am sure you will all see prosperity in the country, which
will replace scarcity and control.  In addition to the above economic,
social and human development, India will also have a visible global
presence in strategic sectors and will contribute to world peace. All
our technological and economic advances while enhancing our prosperity
would embed our value system derived from our civilisational heritage.
This unique combination will make our growth robust and sustainable
and will lead to a peaceful, secure, happy and prosperous society.

To achieve these goals, a national movement of development is
essential. In this movement, every citizen, every constituent of our
democracy has to participate. What can be the profile of people’s
participation in this development movement? Citizens participation can
be in many important areas like; Reaching the unreached, feedback on
service to the people, Human Resource Development, Entrepreneurship,
Role of Home makers, Environment development, Youth participation in
the political system with a focus on developed India.

The government has doubled credit availability to the
agriculture sector in 2005-06 keeping 2004-05 as a base. NABARD and
banking and financial institutions have to work together  to find
hassle-free methods of providing micro credit and micro investment to
needy farmers so that they are weaned away from the clutches of
elements who exploit them.

Simultaneously, agricultural researchers, extension workers
from academic institutions, non-governmental organisations and
industry should work closely with farmers and enable them to increase
productivity, storage, food processing and marketing.  In addition,
they should facilitate the farmers to undertake non-farm tasks on the
lines of “one product per village cluster” scheme to promote export of
products based on the core-competence of the village for increasing
the sustainability of the rural sector as a whole.  Insurance
companies have to come forward with micro insurance, crop insurance
and cattle insurance, apart from low cost medical insurance for
providing risk cover to farmers. Similarly, units like mobile
diagnostic clinics as in Uttarakhand may be operated in all the
districts to reach medicare to the unreached.  Recently, I have come
across a number of initiatives by our judicial systems at various
levels for fast delivery of justice such as legal aid clinics,
mediation and conciliation, mobile court and lok-adalat and increasing
the number of days and number of hours of working per day.

Having mobile courts reaching the village to deliver justice
at the doorstep of rural citizens can reinforce these initiatives. The
corporate sector may also think of reaching the unreached as an
essential component of “Corporate Social Responsibility.” In a world
dominated by communication, extending communication from the
privileged to include connectivity to the unreached should be part of
our technological upheaval.

Though India is known to be one of the best destinations for
outsourcing of many of the service and knowledge products, within our
society we are yet to grow to appreciate and pay for the services.
However, developed nations are gauged by the quality of service the
citizens get from the government and from the corporate with which
they do business. One mechanism by which we can continuously increase
the quality of service is through feedback. This should be done by
everyone without fear or bias.  This feedback will enable all service
providers to constantly improve the quality of service irrespective of
what the service is. We will see a substantial increase in services
such as electricity, water, telephone, gas, transportation, education,
insurance, banking, legal and police.  Service providers whether they
are in Government or in the private sector have to take feedback in
the right spirit and provide customer satisfaction both in the
short-term and in the long-term. Customers  should also acknowledge
positive developments and celebrate improvements. This scenario should
lead to pride of service and competitiveness.

Websites and Portals have all along been the best source for
receiving feedback from the public, apart from meeting people
directly. I have been visiting Government websites of many agencies.
If the website does not provide latest information its utility
diminishes and loses the purpose for which the government department
websites were created.

It is necessary that these websites are constantly updated so
that they provide latest information and opportunities for feedback.
The website may also be used to provide information on the action
taken about a particular suggestion.  It is essential that service
providing organisations create a user forum and meet them regularly
for proactively improving quality of service through a monitoring
mechanism.  Government officers should make use of e-governance
portals and e-mails to stay continuously connected with the people and
take necessary actions. The recent step of the government to introduce
the Right to Information Act is a positive step towards transparency
in  governance.

Presently our university education system is contributing 3
million graduates and post graduates every year and students seeking
employment after completion of 10th class and 10+2 class are around 7
million per year. Thus nearly 10 million youth are injected into the
employment market every year. In the 21st century, India needs a large
number of talented youth with higher education for the task of
knowledge acquisition, knowledge imparting, knowledge creation and
knowledge sharing.

At present India has five hundred and forty million youth
under the age of 25. This will continuously be growing till the year
2050.  Keeping this resource in mind, the universities and educational
systems should create two cadres of personnel: (i) a global cadre of
skilled youth with specific knowledge of special skills (ii) another
global cadre of youth with higher education.  These two cadres will be
required not only for powering the manufacturing and services sector
of India but also will be needed for fulfilling the human resource
requirements of various countries.

Thus, the universities and secondary school education system
will have to work towards increasing the through put of the higher
education system from the existing 11 percent to 20 percent by the
year 2015, 30 percent by the year 2020 and 50 percent by the year
2040.

Other Indians who are not covered by the higher education
system should all have world class skill sets in areas such as
construction, carpentry, electrical systems, repair of mechanical
systems, fashion design, para-legal, para-medical, accountancy, sales
and marketing, software and hardware maintenance and service, software
quality assurance to name a few.  No Indian youth should be without
either a world-class higher education or without world class skill
sets.

This is an important task in which all universities, academic
specialists, colleges, vocational training institutions, certification
agencies, banking systems and industrial enterprises can contribute in
terms of assessing correct numbers, designing courses related to
nation building  tasks, assessing and providing infrastructural
requirement, improving quality of teachers, ensuring teachers-students
ratio, complementing class room education with virtual class rooms
through tele-education and above all ensuring that students are able
to face international competition in employable skills.

Systems must be designed in such a way that no aspiring
competent student should be denied quality education.  The system of
education must be able to maintain the required output quality. These
are examples of what the Government has to do to give an enabling
environment and how those who operate education systems have to give
to our youth. Then, our youth can give their knowledge skills in
making the nation prosperous.

Orientation for entrepreneurship has to start right from the
schools. Teachers need to teach the role of entrepreneurship in
national development in schools. During college education, students
must be exposed to business development opportunities and must be
trained towards creation of new enterprises. Parents should encourage
their children to take up new ventures after their education. We
should cultivate a mind set that “Idea is wealth.” The Government must
create a facilitating environment for provision of venture capital for
innovative ideas without collateral security.

Universities, Engineering and Management institutions should
work with banks and other funding agencies towards simplifying
procedures and working with entrepreneurs till the project becomes
self-sustaining and viable. Procedures in Government should facilitate
the spotting and recognition of new Indian talents and small
entrepreneurs by creating a level playing field for healthy
competition. Citizens who can afford could turn themselves into angel
investors or start venture capital organisations to fund such
ventures. Big and small industries need to have a mind to encourage
and partner with young entrepreneurs.

Home makers have an important role to play in addition to
shaping the family. They can equally contribute to societal
upliftment.  I have come across a project called “Siruthuli” which has
been taken up in Coimbatore. This project on large scale rain water
harvesting and activating the  water bodies,  aforestation, sewage and
waste water treatment and solid waste management,  integrates a large
number of people from different walks of life.  A home maker is
providing the leadership to this project. Many of the Panchayats
across the country have women members who have been giving leadership
in various rural development initiatives. Imagine the difference which
can be made in the six hundred thousand villages with such actions.

Environment can become clean and upgraded only through
countrywide active participation of citizens. People as a team can
participate in cleaning the environment like the cleaning of the Kali
Bein River. Spiritual  leaders can play a very important role in
persuading  devotees in the clean environment movement which will
promote the evolution of beautiful minds. Local groups can be formed
to demonstrate and teach cleanliness in local residential areas.
Welfare associations, NCC Cadets, Scouts, Guides and NSS Volunteers
can proactively form these groups. Industrialists should follow the
prescribed norms for environmental standards in all their institutions
and make buildings friendly to differently challenged people.

Government employees should keep their offices and their
environment clean as they would like to keep their homes. Parents and
teachers should teach the need for environmental friendly requirements
to younger citizens. Citizens can plant trees and nurture them in
their neighbourhood every year as a mission. Our public
infrastructure, airports, railway stations, bus stations, sea ports
and Hospitals form  the face of the nation in the global environment.
It is the responsibility of all stakeholders including citizens to
promote cleanliness in all these public facilities.

The youth should take up politics as their career in large
numbers. Political Science should form part of the curriculum from
secondary to college level for all students with development politics
as the focus.  Citizens should proactively cast their votes to select
candidates of known performance with honesty as the focus. Legal
personalities, experts and professionals should educate citizens about
the political process, constitution, procedures and their rights and
responsibilities.

Similarly there are many more important tasks like making
education accessible to every citizen, uplifting citizens below the
poverty level through a focused mission and accelerating agriculture
reforms. In the same way, there can be a movement in the judiciary for
time bound clearance of pending cases in district courts and high
courts within the next 3 years. The Judiciary and bar should ensure
that the common citizen gets speedy justice with nobility. While
citizens demand that our police force has to be transparent and action
oriented, it is also essential that police stations are electronically
connected and simultaneously they should be empowered with better
quality of life, like proper housing, sanitary facilities, medical
cover and children’s education. This will enable them to concentrate
in their work with peace of mind and thereby output from the police
would increase.  Above all our women folk constitute fifty percent of
our population. Their dignity should be protected and they should get
proper representation in all decision making institutions like
Panchayat systems. Our Panchayat Boards really represent the village
citizens and they should ensure that all development funds allotted
for rural development in their area are properly utilised for the
intended purpose without dilution. Dear friends, there are many more
areas in which citizens can participate towards the national
development movement. Now let me focus on national security.

Our Armed Forces and Paramilitary Forces, day or night, are
awake guarding our borders on the land, in the air and at sea and
remain vigilant to counter any threat and facilitate unhindered
progress of national development.   I have experienced this
personally, when I visited the Siachen Glacier at an altitude of 17000
ft. The temperature at minus 35  degrees centigrade  with heavy winds,
did not deter our courageous Jawans. When, I was in the submarine, I
saw young sailors and naval officers functioning efficiently and
vigilantly in the silent sea keeping all round vigil on their mission
in the Indian ocean.

When I was with 20 Squadron of the Indian Air Force, I
experienced how our fighter pilots can meet any challenge of
multi-targets through radar missiles and EW systems. We cherish the
valour,  commitment and  devotion to duty of these gallant personnel
of our Armed Forces. Our Police Forces and Intelligence agencies
complement each other and provide safety  and security to our citizens
from unscrupulous elements, criminals  and extremists. Many persons
from these forces have laid down their lives while protecting the
nation, the flag and our people.  We salute them all. Our colleges and
universities must not only generate excellent entrepreneurs,
researchers but also generate the best soldiers for our country.
Parents should encourage their children to participate in  national
security missions.

Some recent incidences of crime against  children have shocked
the whole nation and left  deep scars in all of us.  Children are our
national wealth.  Cruelty to children is against the fabric of society
which cannot be tolerated at any cost.  Concerted action by all
concerned in society such as  watchful neighbours, fast action
oriented police machinery, vigilant media and speedy exemplary
punishment to perpetrators  of crime by the judicial system is the
need of the hour. In addition, as a preventive action we have to
identify people who have such tendency in society through modern
psychological test aids.  Eradication of cruelty towards children
should be the mission of every Indian since they are our future.

Developed India by 2020 is a mission of a billion people.
Every one of us has a role to play. It will be a reality if everyone
“Gives – What I can give”, through individual, societal and nationwide
participation in a national movement facilitated by the Government.
My interactions with our citizens in India and abroad, particularly
the youth demonstrate to me the positive energy flowing from
individuals which make them eager to give all they can to make India
developed. The attitude of giving by every citizen and each group will
definitely be an enriching factor for the whole nation leading to an
accelerated development process.

When the nation marches towards its missions, many challenges
will come on the way. Courage is a very important trait for all
sections of society in overcoming these challenges. I would like to
narrate one incident. On 8th June 2006, I was in the flight of
Su-30-MKI. The captain of the aircraft was Wing Commander Ajay
Rathore. The duration of the flight was 40 minutes. I participated in
all flight actions. When I landed, there were many youth and media
personnel.

One young man asked me a question, “Mr President, please tell
me, since you have flown in the supersonic fighter aircraft at the age
of 74, were you afraid anytime during the flight.” I told the young
man, “All the 40 minutes of the flight, I was busy on the controls and
instruments and experiencing the “g” build up. I was advised by the
captain to track targets and also look at the ground using the
synthetic aperture radar. In addition, I was observing the performance
of the instruments developed indigenously. I was continuously busy in
the flight operations and I didn’t have time to allow fear to enter
into me.” Now, dear young friends who have assembled in front of me
and the nation, I have a message of Courage for you.

Courage to Give

“Courage to think different,
Courage to invent,
Courage to discover the impossible,
Courage to travel into an unexplored path,
Courage to share knowledge
Courage to remove pain
Courage to reach the unreached
Courage to combat problems
And Succeed,
Are the unique qualities of youth.”

As the youth of my nation, I will work and work with courage
to achieve success in all my missions.

My dear citizens, let me once again wish you a very purposeful
and happy Republic Day.

May God bless you.

Jai Hind.

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