Privileged to work as your PM: Modi's parting letter to Ram Nath Kovind

New Delhi, July 26

Advertisement

Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday tweeted a letter written to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which the latter hailed the former President’s prioritisation of civic duty as “a well thought-out and meaningful highlight of the 14th presidency”.

“This letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi has deeply touched me. I take his kind and heartfelt words as a reflection of love and respect fellow citizens have showered on me. I am sincerely grateful to you all,” wrote Kovind, whose term expired on July 24.

This letter from Prime Minister @narendramodi has deeply touched me. I take his kind and heartfelt words as a reflection of love and respect fellow citizens have showered on me. I am sincerely grateful to you all. pic.twitter.com/8GBBMnwvYf

— Ram Nath Kovind (@ramnathkovind) July 26, 2022

In the letter dated July 24, PM Modi said former President Kovind set the highest standards of principle, probity and performance and of sensitivity and service.

“As we approach the 75th anniversary of Independence, your remarkable personal journey, from a small village deep in the heartland of our country to Rashtrapati Bhavan, has been a parable for a country’s evolution and development, and an inspiration for our society. Through your life and career, you have preserved with determination and dignity, with a deep commitment to the morality and integrity that is at the core of Indian ethos, and with the highest regard and responsibility towards the principles of our Constitution,’ the PM wrote in the letter, hailing the former head of state for his calmness during the unprecedented stress of the pandemic and of a world caught in turbulence and conflict.

Mentioning Kovind’s humility, the PM said, “You were the first citizen of the country but I always found you unwavering in your compassion and concern for the welfare of the weaker citizen. Even as you reached the highest office in our land, you remained firmly and proudly rooted in its soil and connected with the people – happy in their company, sensitive to their problems.”

The PM mentioned the themes former President Kovind prioritised during his tenure and said, “The themes of civic duty and giving back to society, the commitment to an India that is a confluence of our ancient heritage as well as of modern science, and of sustainable social change driven by increasing and expanded access to education, especially for girl children- have been well thought-out and meaningful.”

The PM fondly remembered a recent visit to Kovind’s native village Paraunkh in Kanpur Dehat and said it had been a privilege to serve as “your prime minister”.

The PM also thanked Kovind for visiting his mother in Gandhinagar and saluted the former President for donating his family home in the native village for the welfare of the poor.

Ram Nath Kovind on Monday shifted to his new residence, 12 Janpath.