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Commending the historic role played by freedom fighters during the struggle for independence, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said India, despite its "tremendous" diversity, has emerged as a successful democracy.
"Despite tremendous diversities, we have emerged as a successful functioning democracy," Dr Singh said after receiving the first copy of the 2007 calendar from United Progressive Alliance chairperson and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at a function in New Delhi.
Describing India as a "unique" country, Dr Singh said, "There is no country of India's size, of India's diversity, of India's complexity, trying to seek its economic and social salvation in the framework of rigorously functioning democracy committed to the rule of law and respect for fundamental human freedoms."
"This fact is now recognised as never before in the world and it is only appropriate that our children should not forget the message of our freedom struggle," he said.
Sonia released the calendar, brought out by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and presented its first copy to Dr Singh.
After receiving the multi-colour calendar depicting 12 momentous events of India's history for freedom struggle, including India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's address to the nation from the rampart of Lal Qila, the prime minister also spoke about the relevance of non-violence in today's world.
"Our freedom struggle, of course, goes back to 1857 when our people rose in revolt against the tyranny of foreign rule. It is necessary that all our generations should never forget the sacrifices that our freedom fighters had to make so that we can breathe the air of free, independent India," he said.
Dr Singh also recited a couplet by famous poet Mohammed Iqbal saying, "Kuchh baat hai ki hasti mit-ti nahi hamari, sadiyon raha hai dushman daure jaman hamara."
Dr Singh also congratulated Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi for bringing out the calendar and said he hoped it would find a place in each and every house in the country "so that it can be a reminder of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters."
Union Ministers Shivraj Patil, A K Antony, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Saifuddin Soz, Mahabir Prasad, Santosh Mohan, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Oscar Fernandes, Sriprakash Jaiswal, Subodh Kant Sahai, Congress leader Motilal Vora, members of Parliament Shyam Benegal and Nirmala Deshpande were among those present on the occasion.