Need debate, not intolerance: President Pranab Mukherjee

December 29, 2016 17:26

While inaugurating the 77th Session of Indian History Congress at Thiruvananthapuram today, President Pranab Mukherjee calls for protection of 'right to doubt, disagree and dispute'. Here are the highlights of the speech.

- An objective pursuit of history requires an impartial mind of a judge and not the mind of an advocate

- We must keep our eyes open for unfamiliar ideas and be ready to consider a range of different inferences or assumptions

- Freedom to doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually must be protected as an essential pillar of our democracy

- Nothing should lie outside the realm of reason, and therefore of discussion and argument

- India's pluralism and social, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity are our greatest strength

- Our traditions have always celebrated the 'argumentative' Indian not the 'intolerant' Indian

- Multiple views, thoughts and philosophies have competed with each other peacefully for centuries in our country

- Indian History Congress has a creditable record of standing up for freedom of expression

- I hope Indian History Congress will continue to remain alert & vigilant in the cause of an objective study of history

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