Spirit of India lies in tolerance and pluralism: Pranab Mukherjee

In his much-anticipated RSS's Tritiya Varsh event speech in Nagpur, former president and veteran Congress leader Dr Pranab Mukherjee said intolerance around culture and religion will impact ''our national identity.''

''Our national identity has emerged after a long-drawn process of confluence and assimilation, the multiple cultures and faiths make us special and tolerant. We celebrate our diversity. This is the power behind collective consciousness,'' he said.

Quoting Rabindranath Tagore he said that races and ethnicities mingled like a river in the country and it is called ''Bharat''.

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The former president also spoke about nationalism and said Indian nationalism is not about language and race and it's not ''exclusive but inclusive''.

Speaking about the coming together of Hindus and Muslims which is the ''character of Indian nationalism'', he said “Thanks to Sardar Patel, princely states merged with Indian states and a republic was born and it was a courageous step. Democracy became our guide,” he said.

“Democracy is not a gift but a sacred trust,” he said and added ''our constitution flows through our nationalism which respects shared diversity and has the ability to self-correct. As party activist and member of Parliament, I realised that spirit of India lies in tolerance and pluralism. Secularism and inclusion is a matter of faith while composite culture defines our nationhood. It is not about one language and one religion, “ he said.

122 languages and 1000 plus dialects are spoken in India, he said and added India does not have any common enemy. “Conversation is necessary with everyone,” he said.

Rage is tearing our social fabric, he said added“We must free our public discourse of physical and verbal violence. Harmony and peace must be pursued. Our motherland is asking for it,” he said.

Quoting Kautilya he said that in the happiness of the people lies the happiness of the King. Modern government is by the people of the people and for the people.

Pranab Mukherjee quoted Nehru and Patel and credited them for laying the foundation of modern India.