Nostalgic, Prez walks down memory lane

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 22

Highlighting the emotional connect he has with Himachal, which he visited for the first time in 1974, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said the land of gods and valiant soldiers had today earned the reputation of a model hill state that others were emulating.

Kovind was speaking at the civic reception organised in his honour, which he attended with his wife Savita Kovind, daughter, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. This is the second-ever civic reception organised in the state capital for the President, with the other being organised in the honour of former President Shankar Dayal Sharma. Kovind arrived here on Sunday and will return on May 25.

"The visit here is virtually like a walk down the memory lane. I seem to be having some close connection with the state as it was on May 20 last year when I was here and I got the information that I had been chosen the NDA's presidential candidate," he recalled. He said when as President he was asked to choose a traditional attire of any state, the obvious choice was Himachal and he wore the cap from the state, which he is often seen wearing.

The President said the rich and pious "Dev Bhoomi" of Himachal found mention in the Rig Vedas, the Mahabharata and other epics. "The state has immense potential for tourism and hydropower generation. The state is ranked on the top in areas like rural infrastructure, women empowerment, poverty alleviation and electrification of all areas," he said.

Kovind paid tributes to valiant soldiers from here who had made the supreme sacrifices. They included Major Somnath Sharma, the first PVC recipient, and Kargil heroes — Major Vikram Batra, Capt Saurabh Kalia and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar. He also recalled the heroic deeds of Ram Singh Pathania who virtually shook the foundation of the British Raj in India.

He also lauded steps taken by the state for environment protection, including earning carbon credits and construction of the Rohtang tunnel which would herald economic prosperity and open new vistas of tourism in the tribal belt.

The President's wife earlier visited the Institute for Visually and Hearing Impaired at Dhalli. She interacted with the students there.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Acharya Devvrat said the state had a lot of potential for promoting organic and zero-budget farming, which need to be promoted.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said Himachal had the honour of hosting the President. "Our state is the most beautiful state not just in scenic beauty but also in terms of its rich culture, heritage and its simple hardworking people," he said.

Thakur said he had been in office for only four months, but had a vision to take the state to heights of development. "Despite constraints like limited resources and finances, our endeavour is to take Himachal, which is far more developed than many big states, to greater heights," he said.

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I am the first citizen of the country by the virtue of which I get to live in the Rashtrapati Bhawan but as citizens of the country, each one of you too have a right over the Rashtrapati Niwas. So whenever you visit Delhi, you are welcome to visit the place.