National Unity Day reinforces unity: Former President Bhandari

Kathmandu, Jan 11: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari asserted that the National Unity Day and Prithvi Jayanti further strengthens the spirit of patriotism and bolsters social harmony, tolerance and national unity.     

Taking to social media on Sunday, former President Bhandari extended her best wishes to all Nepalis on the occasion of the National Unity Day and 304th birth anniversary of Prithvi Narayan Shah, the ruler who founded modern Nepal by unifying various principalities irrespective of social, geographical and economic adversities.     

Bhandari expressed her hope that the Day would inspire everyone to work towards protecting national dignity, independence, sovereignty and achieving prosperity. "It is a glorious chapter of our history that the modern nation of Nepal was formed through the unification of small principalities that had been marred by conflict, strife and instability and were thus far from development."     

She insisted that we must internalize the historical fact that Nepal's independent and sovereign existence was protected due to the farsighted leadership of Prithvi Narayan Shah who, she argued, led the unification bid by soliciting public's opinions and suggestions and made the unification bid a people-based national campaign.     

The former head of the state acknowledged that the sacrifice and dedication of our brave ancestors also contributed to the nation's existence being independent and sovereign. Bhandari argued that Nepal has reached the stage of sovereign, independent, democratic and republican state standing on the very foundation laid by the historic unification bid. She encouraged all to pride on our scared land, history and culture and remain grateful towards our ancestors.     

According to her, if the today's generation could draw guidance from the positive lessons of history, it would be deemed as the identity of a civilized society.     

The former President noted that the 'Divya Upadesh (divine sermons/teachings) of Prithvi Narayan Shah are equally relevant even today in the context of national, self-reliant and independent economy and a balanced foreign policy.     

Today marks the 304th birth anniversary of the nation-builder Prithvi Narayan Shah as well as the National Unity Day 2082 BS. The Day has been observed by organizing a variety of programmes across the country.(RSS)