Stressing on the need for celebration of diversity in the country, former President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters that people “are at the centre of all activities of the State and nothing should be done to divide them” and that “any attempt at defining our nationhood in terms of dogmas and identities of religion, region, hatred and intolerance will only lead to dilution of our national identity”.
Seeking to end the controversy preceding his visit to the RSS headquarters to address the closing ceremony of the “Tritiya Varsha Sangh Shiksha Varg”, Pranab called for freeing public discourse from all forms of violence — physical or verbal. “We must move away from conflict, violence and anger to peace, harmony and happiness. Our motherland is asking for it. It deserves it,” the former President said.
In his 27-minute speech, Pranab said, “We derive our strength from tolerance. We accept and respect our pluralism… The aim of the State should be to galvanise them to fight a concerted war against poverty, disease and deprivation. Only then can we create a nation where nationalism flows automatically.”
Earlier, seeking to draw curtains over the controversy over Mukherjee’s visit to the RSS headquarters, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said, “The RSS invites well-known people from various walks of life. The Sangh remains the Sangh and Dr Pranab Mukherjee remains Dr Pranab Mukherjee. We do not discriminate between Indian citizens…There have been many debates about Dr Mukjherjee attending the event. These are futile.”
Maintaining that the RSS believes in uniting people, Bhagwat said, “The Sangh only wants to unite the entire society. We embrace all. We are not just for one section. The RSS believes in unity in diversity. Every citizen born in India is an Indian. It is his right to worship our motherland.”
Ahead of addressing the Sangh cadre at the RSS headquarters, Pranab visited the memorial of late Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of the RSS, and hailed him as “a great son of Mother India”.
“Today, I came here to pay respect and homage to a great son of Mother India,” Pranab wrote in the visitor’s book at Hedgewar’s birthplace which has been converted into a memorial.
Maintaining that the construct of Indian nationalism was “Constitutional patriotism”, Pranab said, “Our Constitution is a magna carta of socio-economic transformation of India.
The Constitution of India represents the hopes and aspirations of a billion plus Indians. From our Constitution flows our nationalism. The construct of Indian Nationalism is Constitutional Patriotism”.
“India’s nationhood is not one language, one religion, one enemy. It is perennial universalism of 1.3 billion people who use more than 122 languages and 1,600 dialects, practice seven major religions and belong to three major ethnic groups, They live under one system, one flag and one identity of being Bharatiya,” he said.
Mukherjee said, “Indian nationalism emanated from “Universalism”, the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Sarve Bhavantu Sukhin and Sarve Santu niramaya. Our national identity has emerged through confluence, assimilation and coexistence”.
“Our nation is neither bound by religion nor race. In fact our Bharat is made up of its diversity,” Mukherjee said.
Averring that the democracy “is not a gift to us but a sacred task”, the former President said, “On 26 January 1950, the Constitution of India came into effect. Democracy became our most precious guide towards peace and regeneration from the swamp of poverty created by centuries of colonial rule. For us, democracy is not a gift, but a sacred trust.”
Calling for a dialogue and reasoned public engagement on all issues of national importance, Mukhejee said, “In a democracy, informed and reasoned public engagement on all issues of national importance is essential. A dialogue is necessary not only to balance the competing interests but also to reconcile them.
We may agree. We may not agree. But we cannot deny essential adherence to multiplicity of opinion”.
Mukherjee said Indian nationalism had evolved through ages but at the centre of it was the thought of universal brotherhood, “The trust in India as a country is eternal. It has rich cultural and civilisational tradition. Indian nationalism had evolved through ages but at the centre of it was the thought of universal brotherhood,” he said.
Expressing serious concern about “increased violence around us”, Mukherjee said, “I am addressing the trainees, you are young and highly trained. Please pray for peace. Our motherland is asking for that and needs that. Every time a woman and child is hurt, the soul of India is wounded.”
“While we have done well in many macro-economic areas. But we have not fared well in the World Happiness Index. We rank 133rd among 156 countries in the happiness index,” Mukherjee said.
Heaping praise on ancient Indian wisdom, Mukherjee said nationalism had over the decades helped people identity themselves with the nation. “It is devotion to and for one’s own country. India was an open society and globally connected along the Silk Route. Merchants and conqurers came to India. Many ancient travellers came to India and gave their account. Various foreign travellers, who came to India centuries ago, said India had an efficient administration and great education system,” the former President said.
Dwelling upon India’s glorious ancient past, Mukherjee said, “A particular thing needs to be kept in mind. Of the 2500 years of conquerers and rulers, the 5,000-year-old civilisation remains constant. Each conquerer has been assimilated and absorbed. This is what makes us special.”