AMN / New Delhi
President Pranab Mukherjee today said former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi Mrs Gandhi’s entire life was infused with a tremendous passion for India and its people.
Speaking at a function where the first copy of the book ‘India’s Indira – A Centennial Tribute’ , edited by senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, was presented to him by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, the President said,’’ Indiraji’s entire life was infused with a tremendous passion for India and its people, and a deep-rooted commitment to our core values.
She was filled with an intense desire to see India rise above poverty and deprivation as well as occupy a rightful place on the high table of the international comity.Her life was a saga of courage and conviction. Fearlessness in action and boldness in decision making was the unique hallmark of her character.
The President said Indiraji waged throughout her life a relentless war against communal and sectarian violence. She strove to successfully transcend divisive identities of caste, community, religion and creed and in the process established a direct connect with people throughout the length and breadth of India. It was this unhindered rapport that made her acceptable from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Mizoram to Dwarka. She had only one identity – that of an Indian.
The President said Indira Gandhi’s response to the worst moments in her political life was to push herself into more action. She remained undaunted in the face of attacks and criticism. She never lost courage. If the Congress Party came back into power within a short period of three years, it was because of Smt. Gandhi’s hard work and determined action. Her short period in political wilderness revealed her true strength.
The President said Indiraji was India’s second longest serving Prime Minister having served continuously for 11 years and two months from 1966 to 1977 and then again for four years and eight months from 1980 to 1984. It was in Indiraji’s time that India became the third largest reservoir of skilled scientific and technical manpower, thefifth military power, the sixth member of the nuclear club, the seventh in the race for space and the tenth industrial power.
’’ The book was released by Vice President Hamid Ansari at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library at Teenmurti House, in the presence of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and several Congress leaders.
