PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES SAMAJIK SAMRASTA MAHOTSAVA AT LOK BHAVAN, GANDHINAGAR

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu graced the ‘Samajik Samrasta Mahotsava’ at Lok Bhavan, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar today (April 14, 2026).

Speaking on the occasion, the President offered her humble tributes to Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr B. R. Ambedkar on behalf of a grateful nation. She said that Babasaheb made multifaceted contributions to the country's progress and in the sphere of social justice, including the drafting of our Constitution. She underlined that Babasaheb's contributions as a legal expert, economist and social reformer have been discussed extensively. However, by disseminating detailed information regarding his work in the fields of banking system, irrigation infrastructure, electricity grid, labour management framework and the revenue-sharing mechanism between the Centre and the States, citizens will be able to gain a comprehensive understanding of his remarkable contributions as a nation-builder.

The President said that Babasaheb always emphasised the importance of education. In our Constitution, education has been accorded the status of a Fundamental Right and provisions have been made in higher educational institutions to safeguard the interests of students belonging to marginalized sections. It is the collective responsibility of all to encourage people from these marginalized sections to pursue education. The spirit of social harmony is strengthened through holistic education, particularly moral education.

The President said that compassion towards all beings and social harmony are complementary in nature. The welfare of all and the unity of society are intrinsically interlinked. True harmony is reflected when individuals rise above divisions of caste, class, language, and region, and uphold the principle of equality without discrimination. All the children of Mother India are one—united in spirit and bound by a shared sense of harmony.

The President said that the spirit of harmony is essential for the holistic, inclusive and equitable development of our country. She was happy to note that in Gujarat, social harmony is being strengthened through initiatives such as tree plantation, sanitation, animal husbandry, agricultural development, and public welfare schemes.

The President said that in the context of social harmony, a significant message from the concluding speech delivered by Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly will remain eternally relevant. According to him, social democracy is a way of life that embraces liberty, equality and fraternity as its fundamental principles.