PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU ATTENDS HARYANA’S DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS IN KURUKSHETRA
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The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, attended the Diamond Jubilee celebrations held in Kurukshetra, Haryana, on Sunday to commemorate 60 years of the state’s formation. On the occasion, she also launched the Diamond Jubilee logo. Haryana Governor Prof. Asim Kumar Ghosh and Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini were also present at the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, the President said this region of Haryana had made a remarkable contribution to the development of Indian culture. It was from this sacred land that the eternal message of the Bhagavad Gita spread across the world. She paid homage to this revered land, which had brought glory to Indian civilisation, and congratulated the people of Haryana for their meaningful contributions to various dimensions of India’s journey of progress.
The President said the land that had spread Lord Krishna’s eternal message of selfless action across the world had also set numerous examples of human courage and achievement in the modern era. Its people had made significant contributions to the freedom struggle, social transformation, democracy, literature and science. Rao Tula Ram’s indomitable courage, Deenbandhu Sir Chhotu Ram’s commitment to farmers’ welfare, Pandit Neki Ram Sharma’s service to the nation and Dada Lakhmi Chand’s dedication to folk culture formed an invaluable part of Haryana’s heritage.
She said Kanshi Ram of Ambala, counted among Haryana’s earliest martyrs of the twentieth century, was one of the founders of the Ghadar Party in San Francisco, along with Lala Hardayal. Nearly a year after his return to India, he was executed by the British government in November 1915. During the Quit India Movement of 1942, people from Haryana’s rural areas, along with those in its towns and cities, participated enthusiastically. Even young girls came forward fearlessly to take part in these movements.
Recalling an inspiring incident, the President said historical records documented the fearless participation of a 12-year-old girl from Rewari in the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930. To defy the salt law, the girl purchased salt using her entire childhood savings. She had saved two paise every day over several years and devoted the entire amount to the movement. The President urged the state government to collect detailed information about this inspiring episode and bring it before society.
President Smt. Droupadi Murmu said Sucheta Kripalani, born on the soil of Haryana, created history by becoming India’s first woman Chief Minister. Shanno Devi, who served as the first Speaker of the newly formed Haryana Legislative Assembly, set an example of women’s pioneering role in democratic institutions. Haryana’s daughter Kalpana Chawla reached the heights of space exploration and gave new wings to the dreams of countless girls.
Referring to the present state government’s sensitivity and commitment towards women and disadvantaged sections, the President said initiatives such as reservation for women in the allotment of ration depots, 50 percent representation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and the constitution of a Welfare Board for transgender persons were significant examples.
She said Haryana had made notable progress in several dimensions of women’s empowerment over the past decade or so. The national ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign was launched from Panipat, Haryana, in January 2015. The campaign had proved to be a highly significant initiative towards women’s empowerment.
The President said a remarkable positive change was taking place in attitudes towards daughters. The sex ratio at birth, which stood at 871 girls per 1,000 boys in 2014, had increased to approximately 915 in November 2025. She expressed hope that coordinated efforts by the state and Central governments would help achieve parity in the sex ratio and further accelerate improvements in women’s health and girls’ education.
The President said that with appropriate encouragement, Haryana’s daughters had brought glory to the country on international sporting platforms. Athletes such as Manu Bhaker, Sweety Boora and Jasmine Lamboria were among the many daughters who had made Haryana proud.
She said Haryana’s sportspersons had achieved extraordinary success in India’s sporting history at the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships.
At the ongoing World Wrestling Championships 2026 in Kazakhstan, Haryana’s Manisha Bhanwala had created history by winning a gold medal, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to achieve this distinction. The President congratulated her on this golden achievement and also appreciated all the Indian women athletes who had won medals at the championship.
She said that of the seven gold medals won by Haryana’s athletes at the Commonwealth Games held earlier this year, five had been secured by women. Para-athlete Sharmila Dhanda from Rewari had demonstrated through her gold medal victory that when determination remained unwavering, physical challenges could not stand in the way of success for long.
The President said Haryana had produced talented individuals in every field. She had had the opportunity to confer Padma Awards on several distinguished personalities from the state, representing literature, folk art, social service, education, sports, para-archery and science.
She said Haryana had always been rich in talent and valour. This land of bravehearts, whose sons and daughters had made sacrifices during the freedom struggle, had also consistently made significant contributions to safeguarding the country’s borders. The tradition of providing dedicated and courageous soldiers to the nation’s armed forces remained strong in Haryana.
The President said Haryana was progressing rapidly towards achieving the objectives for which the state was established. Coordination with the Central government was giving a new direction to the state’s development.
She said a hydrogen-powered train had recently been introduced between Jind and Sonipat, marking the launch of the country’s first hydrogen-powered train. She had also learnt about significant initiatives undertaken to modernise railway infrastructure in Haryana.
Haryana had also established a distinctive position in foodgrain production, she said. The state’s foodgrain productivity was approximately 50 percent higher than the national average, and it was making an important contribution to the country’s food security.
The President said Haryana was reaching new milestones in inclusive development. Several deeply rooted social orthodoxies were being dismantled. She emphasised that the processes of holistic development and progressive thinking must advance together in harmony.
She said Haryana is the land that had given the message of the Bhagavad Gita to the world. Lord Shri Krishna’s personality embodied an ideal synthesis of knowledge and action, strength and compassion, leadership and public welfare. She expressed hope that the inspiration drawn from his personality and teachings would provide the strength and wisdom needed to fulfil their duties to every individual and institution working for Haryana’s development.
