On Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of Delhi's famous Red Fort. He spoke about women's empowerment and praised notable female leaders who had contributed to India's freedom movement while pleading for a "change in thinking."
In recognising the contribution of women to India's fight for independence, Prime Minister Modi remarked that every Indian is proud of the country's strong women, including Rani Laxmibai, Jhalkaribai, Chennamma, and Begum Hazrat Mahal.
PM Modi emphasised the importance of supporting "Nari Shakti" and added that respect for women is a key pillar for India's development.
The Prime Minister urged Indians to improve their attitudes toward women in everyday situations.
“For some reason or the other, a distortion has set in us that we, through our speech, through our behavior, through some of our words, disrespect women, PM Modi said.
I want to ask one thing of every Indian. Can we alter the way people think about our women in general? Pride of Nari Shakti would be essential in helping India achieve its goals. India's development is supported in large part by respect for women. Supporting our #Narishakti is necessary.
He challenged the crowd to promise to do away with anything that degrades women in day-to-day life.
In his speech to the country, Prime Minister Modi added that India is the birthplace of democracy. The mother of democracy is India. India has overcome numerous obstacles and demonstrated its valuable abilities during the course of its 75-year journey.
PM Modi also termed gender equality as a crucial parameter for unity. “We should celebrate the diversity of India…. At home, too, the roots of unity are sowed when both the son and the daughter are equal. If they are not, the mantra of unity cannot reverberate. Gender equality is a crucial parameter of unity,” the prime minister said.
The Prime Minister recalled the philosophies of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. “Based on the philosophy of Gandhi ji, we are working towards empowering every Indian at every corner of the nation … be it Dalit, women, farmers, Divyang … from north to south, east to west,” said PM Modi.a
