The people of India's southernmost district Car Nicobar have shown great resilience in bouncing back after the terrible havoc wrought on these islands by the tsunami ten years ago, President Pranab Mukhrjee said today.
"We were simply dumbfounded by the calamity and devastation that took place on the island.
"As Defence Minister, I had considered it my bounden-duty to come to the distressed people of this island and stand by them only to convey the message that in this hour of distress we are with you", he said.
He said residents of Andaman and Islands had faced the challenges with courage and fortitude and showed great resilience.
Mukherjee said the government of India and the Andaman and Nicobar administration had also efficiently held the reconstruction and rehabilitation work.
The President had earlier in the day laid a wreath at the Tsunami memorial here.
Mukherjee said the people of Car Nicobar have accepted modernity but they have managed to synthesise it with their traditions and culture, which is the ideal approach.
"You have accepted modernity but at the same time you have synthesised it with your own glorious culture, heritage and that should be the approach.
"You have not forgotten about your ancestors and the skills, the love for dance music, acrobatics which they had passed on to generations," Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee said though the people of these islands may have problems and deficiencies in many areas, these could removed through cooperation between the citizens and the administration.
