Key to India's success is its diversity: President Ram Nath Kovind

New Delhi: Ram Nath Kovind swore in as the 14th President of India on Tuesday at Rashtrapati Bhawan in a glittering ceremony.

Kovind was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar. He exchanged seats with Pranab Mukherjee and a 21-gun salute followed as the new President Kovind made his first address. 

Ram Nath Kovind then addressed the gathering at Central as President of India, "I am accepting this position with all humility and I am grateful for this responsibility. I feel privileged to walk on the same path as Dr. Radhakrishnan, Dr Abdul Kalam and Pranab da".

In his first address as president after taking oath at the Central Hall of Parliament, Kovind said there is need to sculpt an educated, ethical and shared community, and an egalitarian society.

"We have achieved a lot as a nation, but the effort to do more, to do better and to do faster is relentless. It is appropriate that the land of Lord Buddha should lead the world in its search for peace, tranquility and ecological balance," he said.

"The key to India's success is its diversity. Our diversity is the core that makes us so unique. We need to build an India that is an economic leader as well as a moral exemplar. We need to sculpt a robust, high growth economy, an
educated, ethical and shared community, and an egalitarian society," the 71-year-old said.

India's 14th president made special mention of women and their role in nation building.

Nations, he said, are not built by governments alone and requires national pride.

"Each citizen of India is a nation builder. Those police and paramilitary forces that fight terrorism and crime are nation builders. Women who despite responsibilities at home and work raise children to be ideal citizens are nation builders," he said.

The new president went on to say that a farmer toiling in the blazing sun to feed fellow citizens is a nation builder as is a scientist concentrating tirelessly to send an Indian space mission to Mars, or invent a vaccine.

"(A) nurse or doctor helping the sick to recover and fighting disease in a remote village, is a nation builder. Young person who founds a start-up and becomes a job creator is a nation builder," he added.

Soon after taking the oath, Kovind had said he was honoured to be sworn in as the 14th president of India would be carrying out responsibilities "with all humility". 

President Ram Nath Kovind arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt escorted by the Military Secretary to the President. Pranab Mukherjee had also taken Kovind on a tour of the official residence.

In view of the ceremonial functions, the outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee along with Kovind proceeded to the Parliament in a six-horse carriage. Army, Navy and Air Force personnel flanked the Raisina Hill road.

Ram Nath Kovind's family members, associates and close friends arrived for the swearing-in at Parliament House.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kovind reached Rajghat and paid tribute to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi along with wife Savita.

The ceremony began at 12:15 pm in the Central Hall of Parliament.

At the Parliament, both were received by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

The dais at the central hall was shared by President and President-elect, Speaker, Vice President and Chief Justice of India.

After the event, outgoing President Mukherjee will proceed to his new residence - 10, Rajaji Marg.

Ram Nath Kovind was elected the President last Thursday as a ruling NDA candidate. He defeated the Opposition parties' nominee Meira Kumar by a huge margin.

Ram Nath Kovind, who served as the 35th Governor of Bihar was born on October 1, 1945 in Paraukh village in the Kanpur Dehat district, Uttar Pradesh. Kovind did his graduation in law from a Kanpur college.

Before the start of his career as a lawyer, Kovind cleared the civil services examination but did not join as he was selected for an allied. Kovind joined the BJP in 1991. He was President of the BJP Dalit Morcha between 1998 and 2002. He also served as Member of Rajya Sabha from 1994 to 2006.