Pratibha Patil begins her first journey as President

New Delhi, July 25 (UNI) Those were moments of pride and glory as Mrs Pratibha Patil took oath as President, and the ceremonial journey to Rashtrapati Bhavan from the Parliament House was symbolic of triumph for the first ever woman to occupy the highest office of the land.

The Central Hall of Parliament was packed with Members of Parliament, Cabinet ministers, Governors and Chief Ministers as Mrs Patil took the oath of office and secrecy.

The entire Parliament House, including the Central Hall, was decorated with flowers to mark the onset of the 12th Presidency.

The glittering function was attended, among others, by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Cabinet ministers and other dignitaries.

On the podium, to the left of Mrs Patil were seated Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Rajya Sabha Acting Chairman K Rehman Khan and to her right was outgoing President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Mrs Patil's NDA opponents, who had launched a vitriolic campaign against her, came out in full strength for the historic event.

The visitors' gallery was occupied by a large number of diplomats and many of Mrs Patil's relatives were also present on the occasion.

Mrs Patil, 72, was draped in a cream sari with green border and in the typical Indian traditions kept her head covered with it.

Dr Kalam looked dapper in his black 'bandgala' suit and was his usual self.

The oath was administered by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan, the first ever Dalit to adorn the country's top judicial post.

Immediately after the swearing in, she swapped chair with Dr Kalam.

A 21-gun salute marked the new President assuming the exalted office.

For reasons guided by astrological auspiciousness, it was for the first time that a President was sworn in the afternoon. All the eleven predecessors of Mrs Patil took oath in the forenoon.

Mrs Patil's address, first in English and then in Hindi, had several quotes from illustrious Indians like Marathi poet Sant Tukaram and Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore.

The 17th century poet was quoted as having said: ''One who befriends the poor and the oppressed; Recognise him to be a Saint, for God is with him.'' Then there was a famous quote from Gurudev which stated that he pined for an India 'where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.' She also paid tributes to brave women like Rani Lakshmibai, Begum Hazrat Mahal and Kitturu Rani Chennamma, who defied the might of the foreign rule.

The President began her address by saying: ''...I stand here today as the Republic's first servant, humbled by this experience.'' Mrs Patil greeted one and all with folded hands as she walked out of the hallowed portals of Parliament, where she was given a national salute by the President's Body Guards (PBGs).

The journey from the Parliament House to Rashtrapati Bhavan was reminiscent of the Raj as the mounted bodyguards escorted the cavalcade. The black limousine carried both Dr Kalam and Mrs Patil.

All along the route were lined up a 1,000 uniformed personnel -- 700 from Army and 150 each from Navy and Air Force. The procession was indeed majestic.

At Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President was greeted with the blowing of bugles as the cavalcade reached the forecourt, signalling the end of the 'Kalam era' and the beginning of a new dawn of a woman President.

In many ways, it also symbolised the robustness of Indian democracy and the equality of opportunity where women can climb to the mightiest of offices.

UNI