Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday (June 07) attended the RSS event at its Nagpur headquarter. He spoke at length about India's history, diversity and peaceful co-existence. Here is the full text of his speech: Greetings, Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat Ji, Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen 1. Today, I'm here to share with you my understanding of the concepts of Nation, Nationalism and Patriotism in the context of India, that is Bharat. These three concepts are so closely intertwined that it is difficult to discuss any one of them in isolation. 2. Let us make a beginning by understanding the dictionary meaning of these three words. Nation is defined as 'a large group of people sharing the same culture, language or history and inhabiting a particular state or area'. Nationalism is defined as 'identification with one's own nation and support for its interests especially to the exclusion of interests of other nations'. Patriotism is defined as 'devotion to and vigorous support for one's country'. 3. Let us look at our roots, India was an open society, globally connected along the Silk and Spice Routes. These busy highways of commerce and conquest witnessed a free exchange of culture, faith and invention as merchants, scholars and sages traversed mountain and desert and sailed the oceans. Buddhism reached Central Asia, China and Southeast Asia together with Hindu influences . Ancient travelers like Megasthenes in the 4th century B.C., Fa Hien in the 5th century A.D. and Hiuen Tsang in the 7th century AD; when they came to India, wrote about the efficient administrative systems with planned settlements and good infrastructure. Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri comprised the ancient university system that dominated the world for 1,800 years beginning the sixth century BCE. They were magnets for the finest minds and scholars in the world. In the liberal environment of these institutions creativity found full form and art, literature, and scholarship flourished. Chanakya's Arthashastra, an authoritative text on state-craft was also written during this period. 4. India was a state long before the concept of the European Nation State gained ground after the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. This model- of a defined territory, a single language, shared religion and a common enemy- is the model which led to the formation of various nation states in Europe. On the other hand Indian Nationalism emanated from "Universalism" the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah. We see the whole world as one family and pray for the happiness and good health of all. Our national identity has emerged through a long drawn process of confluence, assimilation, and co-existence. The multiplicity in culture, faith and language is what makes India special. We derive our strength from tolerance. We accept and respect our pluralism. We celebrate our diversity. These have been a part of our collective consciousness for centuries. Any attempt at defining our nationhood in terms of dogmas and identities of religion, region, hatred and intolerance will only lead to dilution of our national identity. Any differences that may appear are only on the surface but we remain a distinct cultural unit with a common history, a common literature and a common civilization . In the words of the eminent historian Vincent Smith, "India beyond all doubt possesses a deep underlying fundamental unity, far more profound than that produced either by geographical isolation or by political superiority. That unity transcends the innumerable diversities of blood, colour, language, dress, manners, and sect". 5. If we take a quick look at history the emergence of the Indian State can be traced back to the sixteen Mahajanapadas mostly spread across Northern India in the 6th century BC. In the 4th century BC, Chandragupta Maurya defeated the Greeks to build a powerful empire comprising of North-Western and Northern India. Emperor Ashoka was the most illustrious ruler of this dynasty. After the collapse of the Mauryan Dynasty, the empire broke into small kingdoms around 185 BC. Gupta Dynasty again created a vast empire which collapsed around 550 AD. Many dynasties ruled till 12th century, when Muslim invaders captured Delhi and successive dynasties ruled for the next 300 years. Babur defeated the last Lodhi King in 1526 at the First Battle of Panipat and firmly established Mughal rule which continued for 300 years. The East India Company after winning the Battle of Plassey in 1757, and the Three Battles of Arcot (1746-63) brought a vast territory in East and South of India under its control. A large part of western region was also annexed to the company's territory and to administer these territories, a modern form of government was established in 1774. To administer these territories, the office of Governor General at fort William, Calcutta and two sub-ordinate governors at Madras and Bombay were created. For nearly 140 years, Calcutta was the centre of British Authority in India. However, the responsibility of administration was taken away from the East India Company in 1858 and the Secretary of State for India was appointed in the British Cabinet to super intend the Indian Administration. 6. Throughout this period of 2500 years of changing political fortunes and conquests, the 5000 year old civilizational continuity remained unbroken. In fact, each conqueror and each foreign element had been absorbed to form a new synthesis and unity . Tagore in his poem 'Bharat Teertha' says and I quote "No one knows at whose beckoning call how many streams, of humanity came in indomitable waves from all over the world, over the millennia and mingled like rivers, into this vast ocean and created an individual soul, that is called Bharat". 7. The concept of Modern Indian State found frequent articulation by various Indian organizations including the Indian National Congress towards the end of nineteenth century. Starting with Shri Surendranath Banerjee in 1895 at Pune, all Congress Presidents gave a call for an Indian Nation comprising the territorial areas of British India and the territories of 565 princely states. When Bal Gangadhar Tilak gave voice to the phrase coined by Barrister Joseph Baptista "Swaraj is my Birthright and I shall have it", he referred to Swaraj for the Indian People - encompassing various castes, creeds, and religions, spread across British India, and Princely States. This Nation and Nationalism was not bound by geography, language, religion, or race. As Gandhiji explained Indian nationalism was not exclusive, nor aggressive, nor destructive. It was this Nationalism that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru so vividly expressed in the 'Discovery of India', and I quote, "I am convinced that Nationalism can only come out of the ideological fusion of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and other groups in India. That does not mean that extinction of any real culture of any group, but it does mean a common national outlook, to which other matters are subordinated". In the process of our movement against British Rule, the various anti-colonial, anti-British and mostly progressive movements across the length and breadth of the country were unified into a cohesive national struggle for freedom, keeping the feeling of patriotism above their individual, ideological and political leanings. 8. We won independence in 1947. Thanks to the efforts of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Princely States merged leading to the consolidation of India. The complete integration of Provincial and Princely States took place after the formation of states on the recommendation of States Re-organisation Commission. 9. On 26 January 1950, the Constitution of India came into effect. In a remarkable display of idealism and courage, we the people of India gave to ourselves a sovereign democratic republic to secure for all its citizens justice, liberty, and equality. We undertook to promote among all citizens fraternity, the dignity of the individual and the unity of the nation. These ideals became the lodestar of the modern Indian State. Democracy became our most precious guide towards peace and regeneration from the swamp of poverty created by centuries of colonial rule. For us, Democracy is not a gift, but a sacred trust. The Indian Constitution, consisting of 395 articles and 12 schedules, is not merely a legal document but a Magna Carta of socio-economic transformation of the country. It represents the hopes and aspirations of the billion plus Indians.<doc-sep>Nagpur: Former president Pranab Mukherjee’s speech at the RSS headquarters reminded of the glorious history of the nation while highlighting inclusiveness, pluralism and unity in diversity as foundation of India, the organisation said late on Thursday. "Mukherjee's address reminded the glorious history of the nation...5,000-year-old cultural heritage of the country. Our state system may have changed but our values remain the same. He also highlighted inclusiveness, pluralism and unity in diversity as foundation of Bharat," RSS prachar pramukh (official spokesperson) Arun Kumar told PTI and thanked Mukherjee for attending the RSS meet. "We thank for him coming to the event and strengthening the conversation around the concept of nation, nationalism and patriotism," he said. Mukherjee warned that any attempt to define India through "religion, hatred, dogmas and intolerance" will dilute our existence and said public discourses must be freed of all forms of violence, as he addressed an RSS event despite criticism by the Congress and his family. Asserting that India's identity has emerged through a long-drawn process of confluence, assimilation and co-existence, Mukherjee, in a strong-worded speech on 'nation, nationalism and patriotism' in context of India, said India's soul resides in pluralism and tolerance.​ (With PTI inputs)<doc-sep>Think twice before going, they told Pranab Mukherjee. The speech, his daughter said, would fade from public memory, but the images would be used to generate fake news. There was a Twitter video titled "RSS For Dummies", and a cautionary blog-post asking readers not to forget what the Sangh "stands for." All these pleas and hand-wringing, before the former president -- a free citizen now unfettered by political affiliations -- uttered a single word in Nagpur. But the words, which were articulated with statesmanly gravitas and passionate force, contained nothing that might embarrass the Indian National Congress. They were a stirring defense of an idea of India: a teeming but harmonious kaleidoscope of culture, faith, and language. Just ask Randeep Singh Surjewala, a Congress national spokesperson, who said in a press release (see full text below) that by "reminding" the RSS of India's pluralism, tolerance, secularism and inclusiveness, Mukherjee showed them the "mirror of truth" in their own backyard. The RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy would disagree. "Heard Mohan Bhagwat [the RSS's leader] and Pranab Mukherjee," he tweeted. "Found virtually no difference in their understanding of what is [a] nation, nationalism and patriotism. Both talked of diversity. Both said nationalism is not limited to any religious identity. What is the liberal secular group objecting to then?" Soon after the news broke that Mukherjee would speak to RSS cadres today, a Bengali newspaper quoted him as saying he'd "received several letters, requests and phone calls", but hadn't "responded to anyone yet." "Whatever I have to say, I will say in Nagpur." And a takeaway from his speech was this note of caution: "Any attempt at defining our nationhood in terms of dogma, and identities of religion, region, hatred, and intolerance will only lead to the dilution of our national identity." Now, consider that these words were spoken just a short while after Anand Sharma, a Congress MP, wrote this in a tweet: "The images of Pranab da, veteran leader and ideologue, at [the] RSS headquarters have anguished millions of Congress workers, and all those who believed in pluralism, diversity and the foundational values of the Indian Republic." Consider also, that Ahmed Patel -- Sharma's Rajya Sabha colleague (and a Gandhi family confidante) -- tweeted this last night. I did not expect this from Pranab da ! https://t.co/VBqXZ8x7SE Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) June 6, 2018 To be sure, it may be argued that the optics of Mukherjee's visit to the RSS headquarters contained an unnerving contrast from the Congress's standpoint: This was, after all, a man who once wanted alleged links between the Sangh (and its affiliates) and terrorists to be probed. Now, he would be the chief guest at an event organised by the RSS, the parent organisation of the Congress's greatest political rival -- the BJP. This, less than a year before a new general election. As one journalist in the newsroom pointed out, the Congress leaders mentioned in the lines above may continue to back their remarks, pointing to a justified sense of anxiety. In the statement released today, Surjewala said Mukherjee's trip to Nagpur "caused wide-ranging discussion, comment, concern and even consternation amongst a large section of Indians, who have an innate belief in our foundational values of democracy, pluralism, diversity -- of cultures, of ethnicity, of languages and religious practices". But as it turned out, Mukherjee's speech was an oratory homage to those very ideas, enshrined in a secular Constitution. Did the Congress speak too much, too soon? Should Rahul Gandhi's party be asking itself: Did we jump the gun? FULL TEXT | The Congress's statement on Pranab Mukherjee's speech Both photos above: Twitter/@INCSandesh Watch: Pranab Mukherjee's full speech at RSS event<doc-sep>
Nagpur: Former president Pranab Mukherjee speaks during the closing ceremony of Tritiya Varsha Sangh Shiksha Varg, an (RSS) event to mark the conclusion of a three-year training camp for Swayamsevaks, in Nagpur on Thursday, June 07, 2018. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is also seen. (PTI Photo)(PTI6_7_2018_000208B) *** Local Caption *** Moneycontrol News Former President of India and Congress veteran, Pranab Mukherjee, addressed RSS swayamsevaks on their annual event Tritiya Varga Varsha in Nagpur yesterday. Mukherjee shared the stage with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, among others. He addressed over 700 swayamsevaks at the valedictory event on Indian nationalism. India derives its strength from tolerance. It believes in collective conscience and celebrates diversity. Intolerance will only dilute our national identity. Any attempt to define our nation through religion, dogma or intolerance will only fade our existence. Hatred leads to dilution of nationalism. The soul of India lies in pluralism and tolerance. Secularism and inclusion is a matter of faith for us. As Gandhiji explained, Indian nationalism was not exclusive, was not destructive. Pandit Nehru said, Indian nationalism only comes from a congregation of Hindus, Muslims and all other religions. Indian nationalism was and is above political, religion and regional inclination. This was the case before Independence and remains to be the truth even today. For us, democracy is not a gift but a sacred task. A dialogue is necessary not only to balance competing interests but also to reconcile them. Here are the key takeaways from Mukherjee’s speech at the event:He concluded his speech by saying that it fascinates him how 122 languages, 1600 dialects, seven major religions, three major ethnic groups live under one Constitution and form a singular identity known as Bharatiya.