SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SMT. PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL, AT THE FAKHRUDDIN ALI AHMED MEMORIAL AWARD CEREMONY

Guwahati,Assam, 19th October 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me immense pleasure to participate in the award giving ceremony of the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award for National Integration. I would like to congratulate Shri Shekhar Gupta and Smt. Shabana Azmi, who though she has not been able to come here today, for getting this award for the years 2006 and 2007 respectively.

Belonging to Assam, Shri Fakruddin Ali Ahmed was the President of our country from 1974 to 1977 but, unfortunately, we lost him in office before completing his term. Ahmed Sahib, as many called him, participated actively in the freedom struggle and worked closely with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi and Maulana Azad. He demonstrated his administrative abilities while serving as a Minister in the State and the Central Government. As the President of India, he invariably conveyed the message of peace and always urged the people to render selfless service to the nation. His ardent commitment to national integration guided his political work. The foundation of national solidarity, according to him, lay in the minds and hearts of all citizens of India. He believed that all Indians must cultivate a broad human outlook, rise above caste or communal loyalties and inculcate the values of tolerance and harmony in their daily lives. Indian thought recognizes diversity of opinion and seeks to create a symphony of the divergent strands of thought and backgrounds. Where conflict of interest exists, he emphasized that a method to reconcile them must be evolved. He said and I quote "national integration demands two things - one, it expects every citizen to realize that the interests of an individual or a group are not served in their exclusive pursuit at the cost of everything else; and two it also expects every citizen or group to subordinate its interests to those of the nation as a whole". Unquote. These words have a deep resonance for the nation today.

The Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award, instituted from the year 2005 onwards by the Government of Assam for those who promote national integration, is a deserving tribute to his memory. The first award, I understand was given to Shri Sunil Dutt for his contributions to public life and next two awardees are Shri Shekhar Gupta an eminent journalist, and Smt. Shabana Azmi a well known film actress and social activist.

Shri Shekhar Gupta is the Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Express. He has, on account of his varied experience as a journalist and his analytical writings, influenced public opinion on important matters. He has the ability to write about the most complex issue in a manner that readers comprehend the crux of the matter and begin to think about them. Through his column 'National Interest', he has always tried to highlight issues that need a national perspective in a non-partisan manner. He is a very balanced and respected journalist. I am told that his association with the North East region is long and old.

In her film career, Shabana Azmi has acted in many socially sensitive films, which have brought to the fore topics that need to be addressed by society. In addition, she has taken up many causes about which the public needs to be educated. Her message in the HIV/AIDS campaign that those affected by AIDS need care and should not be ostracised is still remembered by many.

Both of them belong to professions which have a very broad outreach, and have the capacity to deeply impact the minds of people.

Cinema wields a sense of intimacy and familiarity and what it projects has a reaction within society. It is a powerful medium through which a spirit of national integrity, dignity and pride as well as tolerance can be portrayed. Films can educate and create awareness about social issues and influence masses. All this imposes an obligation on everyone associated with the film industry to look at how to use the power of cinema to do good for society through the portrayal of attitudes that help in building tolerant and peaceful societies. We have a rich and varied cultural heritage that has been and continues to be a very significant base for telling our own people of our rich cultural heritage, our civilizational strengths, and our deep-rooted ethos of non-violence and of living in harmony with nature.

The media is a powerful entity. Recognizing its deep influence way back in the late 18th century, Edmund Burke, during a debate in the British House of Parliament, pointed to the press gallery said, "Yonder sits the Fourth Estate, and they are more important than them all." Media's reach is only expanding and its platforms have increased from print to radio and electronic as well as internet. Media in one form or the other, particularly the electronic media, has today dramatically penetrated into every home. In many ways, the media is shaping our thoughts, aspirations and opinions and this means that the responsibilities and duties of media are increasing. While bringing news and all that is happening in society to the forefront, it must also carry messages in a manner that helps in building a constructive approach. Media can contribute significantly to the process of socio-economic development and in our fight against social evils which hamper our efforts in accomplishing broader goals for our great nation.

I believe that all Indians, in different professions and in different fields of activity, are a part of the collective forward movement of the Indian nation. Each one of us, therefore, has to be conscious about it and work together. There have been and there will be many challenges and difficulties along this path. But every challenge contains a message and every difficulty has a solution. We must overcome obstacles and work relentlessly for our goal of building a progressive country and a compassionate society. Recently, incidents of violence and intolerance have occurred in our country. These go against our cultural ethos and civilizational values. It is deeply distressing that they have chosen the wrong path and a divisive agenda. Their violence should not divert us from our path of growth and neither should it be allowed to dilute our basic tolerant character. India achieved its independence through non-violent means, it has followed the route of democracy and it has always advocated the principles of peace and harmony. This must and will continue to be the path of our nation.

I once again, congratulate Shri Shekhar Gupta and Smt. Shabana Azmi for the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Award. I applaud the contributions that they have made to society and hope that they will continue with their efforts. Their work can be an encouragement to others to rise above narrow considerations, develop a broad outlook and do their national duty.

Thank You.

Jai Hind.