Inaugurating an archives and research centre at the Sabarmati Ashram, Mahatama Gandhi’s residence for 12 years, President Pranab Mukherjee said that the real dirt lies in our unwillingness to let go of divisive views.
He added that “we must make a success of the laudable and welcome Swatch Bharat Mission.”
Discussing untouchability, he said that both Gandhi and Dr BR Ambedkar would agree that as long as it is an issue, so long as manual scavenging persists, we cannot really have a Swachh Bharat. He also commented on the violence engendered by intolerance.
“At the heart of this violence is darkness, fear and mistrust,” he said, adding “while we invent new modes of combating this ever spiraling violence, we must not forget the power of non-violence, dialogue and reason”.
The President invoked Gandhi and his principles of non-violence and tolerance a number of times. “GandhiJi enunciated some of the finest principles of democratic life that should all times regulate relations of citizens and their government”.
“GandhiJi used a very special word for civilization, SUDHAR. SUDHAR is not just the good path or the right path but also that which holds human civilization together. Let us pledge to join hands and build an India that truly exemplifies this SUDHAR,” he said.
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