President Murmu Praises Indian Diaspora’s Role in Enhancing India’s Global Prestige

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President of India Droupadi Murmu praised the Indian diaspora and officials serving at Indian missions overseas for their contributions to enhancing India’s prestige and honor on the global stage, according to her Independence Day message read by Consul General of India in Atlanta Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan.

Lakshmanan read the President’s message during celebrations marking India’s 80th Independence Day at the Consulate General of India in Atlanta on August 15.

“All Indians, living in the country and abroad, celebrate this festival with great joy. Our Tricolor is the symbol of our freedom. We unfurl it with immense pride,” President Murmu said in her message, as read by the Consul General.

“I also praise the Indian diaspora and the officials serving in our embassies who enhance India’s prestige and honor on the global stage,” the President said, adding that on August 15, 1947, Bharat Mata was liberated from the “shackles of subjugation.”

President Murmu said every citizen became an “architect” of the destiny of independent India. She noted that the true meaning of freedom lies in ensuring that all citizens are able to utilize opportunities to fulfill their aspirations and work toward the goal of making India the foremost nation in the world.

In her message, the President highlighted the contributions of students and teachers, scientists and engineers committed to development, doctors and healthcare workers providing health services, industrious workers, and Annadata farmers, saying their efforts are contributing to nation-building.

“I wholeheartedly appreciate each one of them. I specially commend the devotion of our soldiers in the three Armed Forces, Armed Police Forces, and all police personnel for their unwavering dedication to duty,” President Murmu said in the message read by Lakshmanan.

The President said India is moving toward its goal of building Viksit Bharat by 2047, the centenary of the country’s independence.

“Guided by the spirit of Antyodaya, it is our resolve to ensure that the fruits of development reach every individual,” she said. “Embracing our rich heritage and the ideals of the freedom movement, we march ahead on the path of modern development. The Ved-Vakya, ‘Vayam Rashtre Jagriyam’ inspires us to always remain ready to serve the nation.”

Reflecting on India’s freedom struggle, President Murmu said people with diverse ideologies were united by the common goal of achieving independence.

She recalled that during the Swadeshi Movement, the song Vande Mataram became a song of the masses. She also noted that countless Indians joined the freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, while Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar embodied the highest ideals of “social reform and patriotism.”

“I humbly bow to all those great sons and daughters of Bharat Mata whose ideals guided our country to its freedom and its progress thereafter,” President Murmu said in the message read by the Consul General.

Referring to India’s observance of Vibhajan Vibheeshika Smriti Divas on August 14, the President said the country solemnly remembers the lakhs of Indians who lost their lives in violence resulting from Partition or were forced to endure displacement. She said lakhs of people became refugees because of communal violence and endured the horrors of Partition, yet did not give up their identity.

President Murmu also recalled the challenge India faced at independence in integrating more than 550 princely states into the newly independent nation. She credited Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with ending the system of kingdoms and integrating the princely states into India’s “independent democracy.”

“On behalf of a grateful nation, I pay my respectful tributes to the sacred memory of the sculptor of the unity of modern India Lauh Purush Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,” she said.

Continuing to read the President’s message, Lakshmanan noted that the Constitution, framed by the people of India, rests on the foundation of public participation. President Murmu said the spirit of public participation has long been inherent among the people of India, which she described as the cradle of democracy.

“With renewed vigor, our fellow citizens are promoting the same tradition of people’s participation. National campaigns are being implemented through active participation of the people. This is an inspiring achievement of our democracy,” the President said, as quoted by Lakshmanan.

“Equality of status and of opportunity, along with the dignity of the individual, are among the cherished ideals of our Constitution,” President Murmu said. Noting that people from ordinary backgrounds are making extraordinary contributions in many fields, she added, “This strengthens my belief that in today’s Bharat, everyone can dream big and also realize such dreams.”

The President also highlighted India’s advances in digital infrastructure, saying the country has developed the world’s largest and best digital infrastructure. She noted that digital payments have become common even in small rural shops and among street vendors, and that more than half of the world’s real-time digital transactions take place in India.

“Together, the people of India and the Government have presented an example of digital revolution to the global community,” President Murmu said. “By using technology, the Government has provided benefits of welfare schemes to the people in a transparent manner.”

She also pointed to what she described as an unprecedented expansion of modern infrastructure, including highways, waterways, railways and airways. According to the President, this expansion is creating opportunities for new “enterprises, generating employment, and boosting investor confidence.”

Turning to foreign policy, President Murmu emphasized that “national interest” is its foundation, while “peace, cooperation, dialogue, and the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” remain key pillars of India’s engagement with the world.

“We have entered into Free Trade Agreements with many countries to enhance economic cooperation and strengthen mutual relations. We are playing a leading role among the countries of the Global South,” she said. “Our country has grown in stature on the global stage. We believe in a rules-based international order. Our endeavor is to ensure that the global community receives appropriate representation in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations. This endeavor of our country has been getting strong support from many countries.”

Consul General Lakshmanan announced that five of the top scorers among 100 participants in this year’s Bharat Ko Janiye, or Know India, quiz were from the Atlanta Consulate’s jurisdiction.

“I am very happy to know that,” Lakshmanan said, explaining that the rankings were based on the highest scores, fewer attempts and the least time taken to complete the quiz.

Earlier, the Consul General hoisted the Indian tricolor at the Consulate in the presence of members of the Indian diaspora. A number of cultural performances were also presented on the occasion.