President Murmu honours Partition victims, says India 'mother of democracy'

The President said India's successful transition to democracy was a natural reflection of its ancient ethos

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday reflected on India’s democratic evolution and paid homage to the victims of Partition in her address on the eve of Independence Day.

 

“After regaining our freedom, we also became a democracy with universal adult franchise. In other words, we the people of India put the power to shape our destiny in the hands of each of us, without any restrictions of gender, religion and other factors that had barred many people from voting in other democracies,” she said.

 

She added that India’s successful transition to democracy was a natural reflection of its ancient democratic ethos. “India had the oldest republics in the world. It is rightly acknowledged as the mother of democracy. When we adopted the Constitution, it provided the edifice of democracy,” she said, highlighting the nation’s historic tradition of self-governance. 

 

Tribute to Partition victims 

President Murmu also remembered the horrors of Partition, observing Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas. She recalled the “terrible violence” and mass relocations that accompanied the division of the country, paying tribute to the millions affected by the events of 1947.

 

“Today, we pay tributes to the victims of the follies of history,” she said. 

Progress since Independence

 

Reflecting on India’s development since 1947, the President noted that the country had made progress in multiple sectors. She highlighted India's economic growth, infrastructure development, and welfare initiatives that had contributed to reducing poverty and regional disparities.

 

"India is well on the way to becoming a self-reliant nation and is moving ahead with great confidence... With a GDP growth rate of 6.5 percent in the last fiscal, India is the fastest growing among the major economies in the world. Even amid stress in the global economy, demand at home is pacing ahead," she said.

 

She added: “Income inequality is reducing. Regional disparities are also disappearing. The states and regions, earlier known for weaker economic performance, are now showing their true potential and catching up with the front-runners."

 

Murmu also underscored advances in healthcare through schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, which covers over 55 crore people, and the expansion of digital infrastructure. “Nearly all villages have 4G mobile connectivity, and the remaining few thousands will be covered soon,” she said, noting India’s growing role in digital payments and artificial intelligence (AI) development through the India-AI mission.

 

Security and national unity

 

On national security, Murmu said that Operation Sindoor showed that India's armed forces are prepared to meet any eventuality when it comes to guarding the nation.

 

"Operation Sindoor was also a test case of the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission in the defence sector. The outcome has proved that we are on the right path. Our indigenous manufacturing has achieved the critical level that makes us self-sufficient in meeting many of our security requirements. These are landmark achievements in India’s defence history since Independence," the President said.