The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has asserted that India was built on the foundations of a fundamentally tolerant civilization and that no other philosophy or religion encapsulates the principle of equality in human beings as succinctly as Indian philosophy.Referring to recent reports on religious freedom in India, the Vice President reiterated that India was the land on which different thoughts and philosophies have taken birth and flourished all through the ages.Speaking at event after releasing the commemorative coins dedicated to 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, here today, he said the plural nature of the Indian society was encapsulated as early as 3rd century BC in an inscription of Ashoka. The Core principle of Indian philosophy is ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which means the whole world in one family.Observing that religious freedom was a Fundamental Right guaranteed under Articles 25 to 28 of Indian Constitution, Shri Naidu said that preamble of the Constitution declares India as Secular so as to guarantee equality to every citizen without any discrimination on the basis of religion. ‘This Constitutional prescription is nothing but a natural culmination of the core values of Indian civilisation that has evolved over the last 5000 years,’ he added.The Vice President described Guru Nanak Dev Ji as one of the greatest spiritual masters of India and the true representative of the sublime spiritual traditions of our Bhakti Movement. He said that Guru Nanak Dev Ji took the faith out of broken structures of rituals and superstitions and kindled it in the hearts and soul of common people.
The Vice President said that Guru Nanak Dev ji taught ethical and compassionate ways to lead a life of satisfaction and fulfillment and gave three Golden Principles to humanity - Kirat karo (Earn Your Livelihood with honest ethical ways with earnest effort), Naam Japo (feel the divine benediction every moment, around you and realize it within your heart) and Wand Chhakko (Share with other selflessly).Shri Naidu said that Guru Nanak ji made India’s age-old tradition of Sharing and Caring the cornerstone of our social ethics.’ This ethical foundation of share and care has guided us for last 550 years,’ he added.Pointing out the Guru Nanak Dev Ji preached for an equitable and shared prosperity of the community and an inclusive society he said these timeless virtues were not only immortal but ever more relevant today as we seek higher growth rates for our economy “Our growth has to be compassionate, socially inclusive to be sustainable. Polarization of wealth and prosperity will make our economic growth unsustainable and will eventually cause social disruption,” he added. Stressing the need to ensure that no section gets marginalized in our fast moving economy, Shri Naidu said “as a society, it is incumbent upon the better-off to look after the needs, interests, respect and dignity of those who live at the margins of our society.”The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Shri Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the General Secretary of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, Shri Harmeet Singh Kalka and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.