LUCKNOW/KANPUR DEHAT, June 27:
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday said he had never imagined that an ordinary village boy like him would have the honour of occupying the highest post in the country, and thanked the people of his birth place for this.
He was addressing a gathering at the Paraunkh village, which is his birthplace, in Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar Pradesh.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted that in a rare emotional gesture, after landing at the helipad near his village, Kovind bowed and touched the soil to pay obeisance to the land of his birth.
This is the first time the president is visiting his village after taking over his present assignment. Though he desired to visit the place earlier, plans could not materialise because of the pandemic, an official statement had earlier said.
“I had never imagined, even in my dreams, that an ordinary village boy like me would have the honour of occupying the highest post in the country. Our democratic system made this possible,” Kovind said.
“Wherever I have reached today, the credit goes to the soil of this village, this region, and to your love and blessings,” he said.
The president paid tributes to B R Ambedkar, makers of the Constitution and freedom fighters. He also visited Milan Kendra and Veerangana Jhalkari Bai Inter College and addressed a Jan Sambodhan Samaroh.
“According to my family’s ‘sanskaar’ (values), the oldest woman in the village is given the status of mother and the oldest man is given the status of father, irrespective of caste or community. Today, I feel happy that this tradition of giving respect to the elders in our family is still continuing,” Kovind said.
He said the scent of soil of the village and the memories of its residents always remain etched in his heart. “For me Paraunkh is not only a village, it is my ‘maatribhoomi’ (motherland) from where I get inspiration to serve the country,” Kovind said.
“This inspiration has made me reach from high court to the Supreme Court to the Rajya Sabha. From the Rajya Sabha, I moved to the Raj Bhavan and from there to the Rashtrapati Bhavan,” the President said.
Kovind also recited a Sanskrit phrase to highlight the pride of ‘janmabhoomi’ (place of birth) and said, “The pride of a mother who gives birth (to a child) and the ‘janmabhoomi’ is greater than heaven.”
“There have been a number of prime ministers from UP, but this is the first time that the state has given a president to the country. Now, the path for the people of UP to become president has also opened up,” he said.
Recalling his school days, Kovind said that after getting primary education in Paraunkh, he went to Khanpur for junior high school. At that time there was no school for post-primary education.
He said he had felt then that had there been a secondary school, many children would have been able to pursue higher studies. In those days, it was almost impossible to send girls out of the village to pursue education, Kovind said, adding he was happy to note that now the village children are getting education at the Veerangana Jhalkari Bai Inter College.
The president said attempts are being made to promote fitness during Covid. “Get yourself vaccinated and inspire others as well. I will personally arrange for villagers to see the Rashtrapati Bhavan. You can come and see it,” he said.
He praised UP Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for taking effective steps to handle the pandemic in the state.
‘Pucca’ houses have been built in the village and it is nice to see the Rohaniya market, Kovind said, adding that he missed his classmates.
On Sunday morning, Kovind reached Paraunkh where he was welcomed by Patel and Adityanath, and he took a round with them.(PTI)
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