Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Indian identity/Indianness which should be upheld, preserved and never compromised
The video below is a very interesting interview of veteran Congress leader and former president Pranab Mukherjee by Rajdeep Sardesai of India Today.
Pranab Mukherjee's First Interview After Presidency, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66dQJXvZfs4, 23 min. 12 secs., published on 15th Oct. 2017.
I have transcribed a short segment of President Mukherjee's words below (slightly edited):
[Around 18:30]
Poverty is the basic thing which is a problem (for the country) and which is a challenge. That will have to be overcome.
And Indian identity is to be [upheld]. It can never be compromised.
...
I am just coming up (with the explanation of Indian identity). That is my perception of Indian identity. When I shut my eyes and look at India, map of India, I find before my eyes 1.3 billion people, in their everyday use, using 100 languages and dialects. Every day!
Practicing 7 religions. A vast chunk of them belonging to all three major ethnic groups: Caucasians, Dravidians (and) Mongoloids. Yet, living under one constitution, one system, under one flag.
That is Indianness. And that Indianness is to be preserved. And that can be preserved ONLY by celebrating diversity, by respecting others, and by always becoming (being) tolerant.
---- end short transcript of President Mukherjee's words ----
Ravi: It is wonderful to see such a clear enunciation from former President, former senior Congress party leader, and former Union minister, Pranab Mukherjee, of what is Indianness in today's early 21st century India, and also how vital it is to uphold and preserve that Indianness in India today.
[I thank former President Pranab Mukherjee (and India Today) and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above short transcript from the above mentioned youtube video on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
Pranab Mukherjee's First Interview After Presidency, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66dQJXvZfs4, 23 min. 12 secs., published on 15th Oct. 2017.
I have transcribed a short segment of President Mukherjee's words below (slightly edited):
[Around 18:30]
Poverty is the basic thing which is a problem (for the country) and which is a challenge. That will have to be overcome.
And Indian identity is to be [upheld]. It can never be compromised.
...
I am just coming up (with the explanation of Indian identity). That is my perception of Indian identity. When I shut my eyes and look at India, map of India, I find before my eyes 1.3 billion people, in their everyday use, using 100 languages and dialects. Every day!
Practicing 7 religions. A vast chunk of them belonging to all three major ethnic groups: Caucasians, Dravidians (and) Mongoloids. Yet, living under one constitution, one system, under one flag.
That is Indianness. And that Indianness is to be preserved. And that can be preserved ONLY by celebrating diversity, by respecting others, and by always becoming (being) tolerant.
---- end short transcript of President Mukherjee's words ----
Ravi: It is wonderful to see such a clear enunciation from former President, former senior Congress party leader, and former Union minister, Pranab Mukherjee, of what is Indianness in today's early 21st century India, and also how vital it is to uphold and preserve that Indianness in India today.
[I thank former President Pranab Mukherjee (and India Today) and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above short transcript from the above mentioned youtube video on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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