Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week hosted a farewell dinner for outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind. The event, held in the national capital, was “unique" as it did not have the usual Delhi-centric crowd, official sources said. The gathering had a good representation from all parts of the country as various Padma awardees and tribal leaders attended the event.
President-elect Droupadi Murmu, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, members of the Union Cabinet, Chief Ministers of various states, and other dignitaries attended the event. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was also present.
Addressing the gathering, President Kovind had once referred to his humble background and said he grew up in a mud house in a small village and that his journey to the presidency had been a long one. “It is so telling of our nation and our society also. For all its problems, it follows that basic mantra given to us in the preamble to the Constitution - of ensuring justice, liberty, equality and fraternity - and I will always continue to follow this basic mantra," he had said. Kovind had then said the key to India’s success is its diversity.
As the President of India, Kovind received the highest State honours from six countries - Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Croatia, Bolivia and Republic of Guinea.
