Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed pride in the fact that many of India’s Prime Ministers came from poor families and reached the top leadership position.
Inaugurating the museum dedicated to all the 14 Prime Ministers that India has had so far, the PM Modi said, "It is a matter of pride for us Indians that many of our Prime Ministers have come from very ordinary families – from remote, rural areas, underprivileged families, farmer families.”
The fact that such leaders came from extremely poor farmer families and reached the position of Prime Minister strengthens faith in the country’s democracy and its traditions, he pointed out.
“It also gives confidence to the youth of the country that even a person born in an ordinary family can reach the highest positions in the democratic system of India”, PM Modi explained.
He said that every government of Independent India has contributed towards taking the country to the heights it has achieved today.
"At a time when the country is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, this museum has come as a grand inspiration. In these 75 years, the country has seen many glorious moments. These moments have an incomparable significance in history," the Prime Minister said, adding that glimpses of many such moments can be seen in the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya.
"All Prime Ministers of the country have tried to take the country forward by surmounting the challenges of the time. There have been different dimensions to their personality, achievements and leadership. These should remain in public memory. I believe that this Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya would become a source of energy for building the future," he said, adding that the country and its future generations would draw inspiration from the museum.
Recalling the rich history and prosperous era of India, the Prime Minister laid stress on spreading awareness about the correct picture of India’s heritage and present. He said the government’s efforts to bring back the stolen heritage from abroad, celebrating places of the glorious heritage, preserving memories of the freedom fighters in places like Jalianwala Bagh Memorial, PanchTeerth commemorating Babasaheb, Freedom Fighter Museum, tribal history museum are steps in that direction.
The Prime Minister started his address with tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar, whose birth anniversary is being celebrated today. "Babasaheb was the architect of the Constitution that gave us a foundation of the parliamentary process," he said.
The Prime Minister said India is the "mother of democracy" and its speciality is that it has changed over time and there have been attempts to strengthen it.
"Apart from one or two instances, we have had a glorious strength of strengthening democracy through democratic processes," he said.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi bought the first ticket to the museum.
The museum, besides being a chronicle to the lives of the country's Prime Ministers, also provides glimpses into different chapters of India.
