President Pranab Mukherjee Thursday described Jawaharlal Nehru as "the jewel of India" and said his legacy continues to lead modern day India to new heights of achievement.
Delivering the 46th Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture here, the president said Nehru's service to India was immeasurable.
"He was one of the greatest figures of our times. Nehru had a clear vision of what modern India should look like and he set out to realise his dreams by establishing strong pillars which would support the young nation," he said.
"India is what it is today because of Nehru, his vision and his lifetime of dedication to the nation. Let us celebrate his legacy and draw inspiration from his life to take our nation towards greater and greater glory," the president said.
The lecture was held a day before the birth anniversary of Nehru. Several events have been lined up to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Nehru, who was born 1889.