This is our great fortune that today on the eve of golden jubilee of independence, we have been able to fulfil this dream of Gandhiji. In the person of Shri K.R. Narayanan we have been able to fulfil the dream of Gandhiji. Our President of whom the whole country is proud of, is from a very poor and downtrodden family and today he has endowed the Rashtrapati Bhawan with a new pride and respect. It is a matter of further happiness that the President has a very high place among the intellectuals of this country. This is a feather in the cap of our democracy that the backward sections of the society today are attaining their rightful place in society.
Women constitute an important part of our society.
There was a revolution a few days back in the Panchayat Raj elections, about one lakh women rightfully became the leaders of Panchayats and Municipal Corporations. When I go to any city and meet the lady mayor or the lady sarpanch, I feel very happy and proud. In this I also see the future of India. We must remember that unless and until women are given their rightful place, no society or country can progress. Women should get the equal place in every field whether in the political, economic or social arena.