When it comes to Republic Day, both school teachers and students all over the country are rightfully proud of their country’s achievements and their contribution to the world. In the process, they have also worked hard to gain an appreciation for how far back their history goes. To our young and old, this is a day where you can learn about our rich past and enjoy a special treat at home.
That is why we have decided to celebrate this occasion with a speech that will make you think about how far our country has come in terms of civil rights, tolerance and democracy. This year’s theme is “India”. We are here to talk about India today — what it has achieved in terms of democracy, pluralism, tolerance and so on — but we also want to talk about how much more India has still to achieve in these areas.
We see them as very different things — one is a part of us; the other is not so much our part but something separate from us (and yet still touching us). When we speak about women’s empowerment or human rights or anything else related to human development, we must always maintain that there will be no real progress unless there is greater parity between men and women… unless there are equal achievements at every level… unless everyone gets a fair chance.
The eminently practical reason for this principle lies in the fact that equality doesn’t just mean equality of outcomes; it also means equality of opportunities. The world works better when everyone gets an equal chance: if you don’t have access to good jobs or educational opportunities because they don’t suit your gender or class background, you can share your views equally with those who do, even if you don’t agree with them on some issues.
India needs to continue moving forward in these ways because if we continue moving forward in these ways as a nation, then India will remain an attractive place for all people who want to work hard and contribute positively towards building a better future for themselves and their families
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