Prez Droupadi Murmu, PM Modi pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on birth anniversaries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his message on X, said his government remains committed to Gandhi’s vision for building a developed India.

“Gandhi Jayanti is about paying homage to the extraordinary life of beloved Bapu, whose ideals transformed the course of human history. He demonstrated how courage and simplicity could become instruments of great change,” he wrote, adding that Gandhi’s belief in service and compassion continues to empower people.

“He personified exemplary leadership, strength and decisive action. His clarion call of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ ignited a spirit of patriotism among our people. He continues to motivate us in the endeavour of building a strong and self-reliant India,” the Prime Minister said.

Stressing on swadeshi, Modi noted that purchasing Indian-made goods is the truest tribute to both Gandhi and Shastri, as self-reliance forms the bedrock of a developed India.

This year marks Gandhi’s 156th birth anniversary.

Born in Gujarat in 1869, Gandhi is revered as the Father of the Nation for spearheading India’s independence struggle with the principles of truth and non-violence, earning global acclaim.

Shastri, born in 1904 in Uttar Pradesh, took over as India’s Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru’s death. His integrity and leadership during his brief tenure, including the 1965 war with Pakistan, won him lasting respect.

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan also remembered Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, describing them as guiding lights for the nation’s moral compass.

On X, he wrote that Gandhi’s life was “an experiment with truth,” urging people to measure their actions by whether they serve the weakest in society.

Paying tributes to Lal Bahadur Shastri, he said the former Prime Minister embodied simplicity and honesty, and his famous slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” continues to symbolise the nation’s reliance on its soldiers and farmers.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge too paid homage to Shastri, acknowledging his enduring contributions to the country.