Rashtrapati Bhavan house of the people of India, says President The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee described the Rashtrapati Bhavan today as a house of the people of India. He was addressing a group of grassroot innovators, writers and artists In-Residence who are staying in Rashtrapati Bhavan for a two week In Residence Programme. The President said the In-Residence programme is among the many initiatives taken to open Rashtrapati Bhavan to the public. He described the participants of the In-Residence Programme as honoured and special guests. He said that they were special guests and will continue to be so because of their talent. All of them were creative minds of a resurgent India and they will add many more glorious chapters to our ancient civilization. If a society cannot respect talent, it cannot be described as a progressive society. Without innovations and creativity, no society can advance. Smt. Omita Paul, Secretary to the President said the President firmly believes that innovation and creative ideas are essential for the growth and development of the country. By encouraging bright minds, we can usher innovations which go beyond economic gains and cover the aspect of social good. She said India needs new ideas and the bright young minds who can usher innovations can be true torch-bearers of the development. She emphasized that innovative ideas need to be supported if we want speed, scalability and sustainability. All the participants in the In-Residence programme shared their experiences of staying at Rashtrapati Bhavan. They said their stay at Rashtrapati Bhavan had inspired them to take their creative initiatives to a higher level. When they return back to their States, they would serve as ambassadors of the President and Rashtrapati Bhavan and encourage others to innovate to find solutions to problems of the people in their day to day lives. On the occasion, the first copy of a book documenting the In-Residence Programme was presented to the President by Smt. Omita Paul, Secretary to the President. The innovators who called on the President included Shri G.K. Ratnakar from Karnataka (innovation: Mini Hydro Turbines), Shri Mushtaq Ahmed Dar from Jammu & Kashmir (innovation: Walnut Cracker), Shri Lal Biakzuala Ralte from Mizoram(innovation: Bamboo Splint Making Machine), Shri Mallesham Laxminarayana Chinthakindi from Andhra Pradesh (innovation: Laxmi Asu making machine), Shri Amrut Lal Bawandas Agrawat from Gujarat (innovation: Aaruni Bullock Cart and Innovative Pulley), Ms. Anuradha Pal from Andhra Pradesh (innovation: Right biotic an Anti-biotic finder) and Shri Swapnanil Debajit Talukdar from Assam (innovation: Foot operated manual page-turning machine). The Writers who are staying at Rashtrapati Bhavan under the In-Residence programme include Shri Binod Ghosal from West Bengal, Ms. Jwishri Boro from Assam and Shri Dhwanil Ravindrabhai Parekh from Gujarat. All three are winners of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar. The Artist In-Residence Shri Shitanshu G. Maurya from Uttar Pradesh and has won the National Award from Lalit Kala Akademi in 2010. The In-Residence programme for innovation scholars, writers and artists was launched by the President of India on December 11, 2013 with a view to encourage senior innovation scholars, writers and artists as well as young and upcoming talent by facilitating them stay close to nature in the picturesque and serene surroundings of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The programme seeks to provide an environment which will inspire creative thinking and rejuvenate artistic/innovative impulses. In previous two years, four writers, five artists and fifteen innovations scholars stayed in Rashtrapati Bhavan in different batches.
