Pomp, tradition as Kovind takes charge

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25

For the 14th time in India’s history, a new president stepped into the Rashtrapati Bhavan today, on a day of ceremony and regalia that started with a gentle knock at the door of Ram Nath Kovind’s Akbar Road residence in the morning.

Military Secretary to the President, Major General Anil Khosla, invited 71-year-old Kovind and his wife Savita to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Pranab Mukherjee was waiting for them in the study.

A few hours later, the roles had reversed and President Kovind escorted Mukherjee out of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Amid “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” slogans raised by some BJP MPs at the oath-taking ceremony, the day was marked with protocol, traditional grandeur and resplendent splendour associated with the ceremony.

While the Central Hall of Parliament, where he was sworn in as the President, had its share of interesting moments, it was minute-to-minute punctuality in the back-to-back ceremonies as Kovind — the first leader from RSS/BJP — undertook the journey to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. It started with Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind proceeding to the Rashtrapati Bhavan from their temporary abode — 10 Akbar Road. And it culminated with them escorting Mukherjee to his new residence — 10 Rajaji Marg.

Mukherjee took the last salute of the President’s Bodyguard (PBG), the cavalry regiment of the Indian Army, with Kovind standing to his left. He and his successor drove down Raisina Hill to the Central Hall of the Parliament in a black limousine, with Mukherjee in the right and Kovind on the left.

The road from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Parliament was lined with 1,000 jawans from all three services of the armed forces offering the traditional ‘hazaar salaam’ to the president — the supreme commander of the defence forces. After the oath ceremony, Kovind met leaders in Central Hall before leaving for the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presidential limousine, this time with Mukherjee in the left and Kovind on the right.

Kovind and Mukherjee reached Rashtrapati Bhavan where the former took charge after signing the register. He then came out to the forecourt in the Presidential buggy, a black carriage with national emblem — Ashoka insignia — embossed in gold and drawn by six horses. (With PTI inputs)

Omits reference to Nehru in 1st speech

Ram Nath Kovind's first speech as President was in keeping with his low-key personality. He said all the right things about his illustrious predecessors, including Pranab Mukherjee. He spoke about Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and BR Ambedkar but the name of Jawaharlal Nehru, generally regarded as the architect of modern India, was missing from the luminaries mentioned by Kovind. The curious omission could not have been inadvertent, especially when Deen Dayal Upadhyay's name was mentioned in the same breath with Gandhi's towards the end of the speech. 

Sangh parivar icons find mention 

Kovind's speech made references to icons held dear by the Sangh parivar. Another noticeable fact was the absence of reference to Congress stalwarts, barring a few appropriated by saffron forces. He also recalled the famous principle of integral humanism propounded by Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay.

Digital transition of Twitter account

As Ram Nath Kovind took office and Pranab Mukherjee bowed out, the Twitter account of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday started functioning as the 140-character digital platform for the 14th President. The Twitter account of Mukherjee, who stepped down as President, has been archived. He has opened a new personal account with the handle @CitiznMukherjee.