NEW DELHI (PTI): Shanker Dayal Sharma on July 25 took over as the ninth president of India with a call for equal respect for all religions to help the country attain its cherished goals.
A blend of color and gaiety marked the 40-minute function at the historic central hall of parliament where Sharma was administered the oath of office and secrecy by chief justice of India justice M.H. Kania.
Soon after being sworn in exactly at 1115 hours, 74-year old Sharma made a strong plea to every Indian to understand the ethos of secularism to guide them in their individual growth and social interaction,
Urging people to safeguard freedom and the gains of freedom, Sharma reminded them that “freedom has little meaning without equality, and equality has little meaning without social and economic justice.”
The packed high-domed central hall reverberated with cheers as Sharma, sporting a Gandhi cap and clad in a white Sherwani’s and Chundar, took the oath in Hindi in front of a distinguished gathering led by the prime minister P.V.Narasimha Rao and his council of ministers.
Former president Zail Singh, the two former premiers V.P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar, Sonia Gandhi, Nobel laureate mother Teresa, the three service chiefs, host of diplomats, state chief ministers and governors were among those present during the 40-minute swearing in ceremony.
Sharma, who spoke in both English and Hindi, laced his speech with quotations of Rabindra Nath Tagore, Guru Gobind Singh, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and some lines from the Bhagwad Gita to drive home the point that oneness of the inner doctrine of all religions is essential as much for national well-being, as for the value of the contribution India can make to global understanding, peace and progress.”
The new president hoped that he would be able to attend to the needs and concerns of the people and witness a “much better quality of life materializing, particularly in the rural areas, where, for many each day is filled with worry about livelihood, sustenance and security.”
Sharma said he was confident that the vision of India’s great leaders in the past of its role in the comity of nations would guide people in their efforts for national reconstruction,
He underlined the need for introspection by all who wished to take India forward in seeing the country as a land of peace, harmony wedded to the rule of law.
The country should be strong and united drawing sustenance from ethical and moral values and capable of overcoming the challenges of terrorism, communal feeling, and caste and Gender oppression, of poverty, ignorance and disease.
Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 7, 1992
