In yet another strong call for harmony and tolerance amid the raging debate on intolerance, President Pranab Mukherjee called for freeing “our public discourse from all forms of violence, physical as well as verbal.”
“Real dirt of India lies not in our streets but in our minds and in our unwillingness to let go of views that divide society into ‘them’ and ‘us,’ ‘pure’ and ‘impure,’ he said, stressing Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of India as an inclusive nation with everyone being equal.
Inaugurating a research and archives centre at the Mahatma Gandhi Ashram here, Mr. Mukhrjee lauded Swachh Bharat, a flagship scheme for sanitation launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying we “must welcome it and make a success of it.”
“However, this must be seen as just the beginning of a much larger and more intense effort to cleanse the minds and fulfil Gandhiji’s vision in all its aspects,” he said, in an oblique remark on hatred in public discourse.
He urged the people not to forget the “power of non-violence, dialogue and reason” and said “we must build an open society, ever ready to engage with diverse ideas and thoughts on equal terms.”
“Every day, we see unprecedented violence all around us. At the heart of this violence are darkness, fear and mistrust. While we invent new modes of combating this ever-spiralling violence, we must not forget the power of non-violence, dialogue and reason,” the President said, quoting Mahatma Gandhi.
Underscoring the importance of an open society, Mr. Mukherjee said: “Only those who are confident of their conviction, secure in their faith and rooted in their culture can hope to live in an open house, an open society. If we close ourselves in, seek to be immune from other influences, it shows we are prepared to live in a house that is devoid of fresh breeze.”
Later, the President attended the convocation of Gujarat Vidhyapith, founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920. There too, he said communal harmony and peace were vital to defeat disruptive forces. “Gandhiji in life and in death struggled for communal harmony. Educating in peace and harmony is the key to containing and reorienting the disruptive forces in society.”
Diu tourism festival beginsMr. Mukherjee inaugurated ‘Festa Da Diu,’ a 75-day beach festival at Diu on Tuesday. “ Festa Da Diu seeks to project the island as an ideal tourism destination,” said Ashish Kundra, the administrator of Daman and Diu. The tiny island is known for its scenic beauty, sandy beaches and heritage buildings.
After attending the convocation of Gujarat Vidhyapith, Mr. Mukherjee flew down to Somnath where he offered prayers at the temple and subsequently landed in Diu.
“It’s for the first time that we are organising such a long event involving cultural shows, music concerts, water and adventure sports and a lot more activities for tourists,” Mr. Kundra said.
Sixty luxurious tents and a conference hall have been set up on the beach with all facilities. Noted singers and musicians such as Kailash Kher, Shreya Ghoshal and Benny Dayal will perform at the festival.
