President Mukherjee completes three years in office tomorrow

President Pranab Mukherjee, who will complete his three years in office tomorrow, will host a dinner for the Council of Ministers and other dignitaries to mark the occasion.

Two volumes of his selected speeches and two books on Rashtrapati Bhavan will be released on the occasion by Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

The books are titled "Abode under the Dome" and "Right of the Line: The President's Bodyguard (1773-2015)".

The two volumes of selected speeches of President Mukherjee contain important speeches delivered by the President since assumption of office on July 25, 2012 as the thirteenth President of India.

The first volume includes fifty two speeches and is divided into five sections: (i) The Nation; (ii) Parliament and State Legislatures; (iii) Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies; (iv) Armed Forces; (v) and Eminent Personalities and Commemorative Events.

The second volume contains 102 speeches and is divided into three sections: (i) Education; (ii) Banquet Speeches; and (iii) Foreign Visits. The speeches included in these volumes reflect President Mukherjee's thinking and appreciation of some of the core issues concerning our nation.

The two volumes are part of a four volume collection of speeches soon to be published.

"Right of the Line: The President's Bodyguard (1773-2015)" is being published in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and IGNCA. The book traces the history and ethos of President's Bodyguard with its origin in the 18th century as a trained body of soldiers who would escort and protect the Governor-General of India to its modern day contemporaneous role comprising mainly of ceremonial duties.

"Abode under the Dome" is part of a series of books aimed at documenting the vibrant and rich legacy of Rashtrapati Bhavan to make the public informed about its historicity and contribution to India's democratic fabric.

The book is a product of extensive research and throws light on how Rashtrapati Bhavan spared no effort in caring for its guests and adhering to traditional Indian culture.

It also details the part played by staff members of Rashtrapati Bhavan' Guest Wing in making each and every honoured guest feel valued and at home. It captures fascinating information on these visits; how the world leaders were welcomed in India, their impressions about our nation and how their visits to India changed the way they and consequently the world looked at our country.

All the above books have been published by Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.