Keeping the constitution of India and his birthplace in the highest regard, President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday expressed his gratitude and respect for both upon reaching Kanpur Dehat.
President Kovind bowed down to touch the soil and pay obeisance to the land of his birth as soon as he landed at a helipad near his village Paraunkh — some 70 km from Kanpur city.
“I’d never imagined even in my dreams that an ordinary boy like me from a village would get privilege of discharging responsibilities of the highest office of the country. But our democratic system has made it possible, said Kovind at Jan Abhinandan Samaroh in Kanpur Dehat.
President Kovind was flanked by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and state governor Anandiben Patel, both of who bowed their heads in a respectful gesture. The President took a bit of the soil and applied it on his forehead, supposedly as a sign of reverence for his native land.
Extending greetings to his fellow citizens, President Kovind said, “Today, on this occasion, I bow to the freedom fighters of the country and the drafting committee of the Constitution for their sacrifice and contribution. As far as I have reached today, the credit goes to the soil of this village and the love and blessings of all of you.”
Recalling his childhood and friends from the era, the President said that he was more than happy to come back to his native village. “Wherever you are, I am too,” he said, “I am only called the first citizen as the President.” Earlier, it would have been difficult to get out of this village but not so now, the President added, hailing the democratic system of the country which, as he put it, has opened a way forward for everyone, irrespective of their status at birth, to achieve important milestones.
