Now Reading: Ram Nath Kovind: My election as President shows democracy’s greatness
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Ram Nath Kovind: My election as President shows democracy’s greatness
Former President Ram Nath Kovind’s autobiography, 'Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles', was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Wednesday, Hindustan Times reports. Kovind writes that…
The Story in Brief
Former President Ram Nath Kovind’s autobiography, 'Triumph of the Indian Republic: My Life, My Struggles', was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Wednesday, Hindustan Times reports. Kovind writes that his elevation to the highest post symbolised the greatness of Indian democracy. The book recounts his journey from a Dalit student in Uttar Pradesh who was denied drinking water freely to becoming the second Dalit President.
Kovind backs the One Nation, One Election plan, stating his panel held 65 meetings over 191 days and found 32 of 47 responding parties in support. He also details his entry into the BJP after attending a 1991 VHP rally for the Ram temple, calling party support for the movement a struggle against pseudo-secularism. Kovind praises former PM Manmohan Singh for his humility and describes Modi as meticulous and methodical.
The Indian Opinion
The memoir's message, that a Dalit boy rising to President proves democracy's greatness, ignores how Kovind himself describes the routine humiliation he faced at school and the political calculations that helped him. The One Nation, One Election pitch, made by the same panel Kovind headed, is promoted as efficiency but 15 parties opposed it. The real test is: will the government bring a constitutional bill without wider consensus?
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, hindustantimes.com (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
