New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee completes three years in office on Saturday, and to mark the occasion he will host a dinner for the union council of ministers and other dignitaries.
Two volumes of his selected speeches will also be released.
Besides, two books on Rashtrapati Bhavan will be also be released on the occasion.
“Abode under the Dome” and “Right of the Line: The President’s Bodyguard (1773-2015)” will be released by Vice President Hamid Ansari and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The two volumes of selected speeches contain important speeches delivered by Mukherjee since he assumed office on July 25, 2012, as the 13th President of India.
The first volume includes 52 speeches and is divided into five sections: “The Nation”, “Parliament and State Legislatures”, “Judiciary and Constitutional Bodies”, “Armed Forces”, and “Eminent Personalities and Commemorative Events”.
The second volume contains 102 speeches and is divided into three sections: “Education”, “Banquet Speeches” and “Foreign Visits”.
The two volumes are part of a four-volume collection of speeches soon to be published.
“Right of the Line: The President’s Bodyguard (1773-2015)” traces their history and ethos from their origin in the 18th century as a trained body of soldiers who would escort and protect the governor-general of India to its modern day contemporaneous role comprising mainly of ceremonial duties, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.
“Abode under the Dome” is part of a series of books aimed at documenting the vibrant and rich legacy of Rashtrapati Bhavan to make the public informed about its historicity and contribution to India’s democratic fabric. A product of extensive research, the book throws light on how Rashtrapati Bhavan spared no effort in caring for its guests and adhering to traditional Indian culture.
It also details the part played by staff members of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Guest Wing in making each and every honoured guest feel valued and at home. It captures information on these visits; how the world leaders were welcomed in India, their impressions about the nation and how their visits to India changed the way they and consequently the world looked at the country, said the statement.