Teachers' Day: President Pranab Mukherjee addresses students, says 'secularism is part of our life'

New Delhi: Sharing his experience in politics of India post-Independence, President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said that India is currently a victim of cross-border terrorism and not a homegrown one.

He said homegrown terrorism is the biggest menace in the world today, but India has been broadly spared from it.

Mukherjee said: "We certainly face attack but from cross-border terrorism. Success of our governance and administration lies in ensuring that homegrown terrorism, which is the world's biggest menace today, is not yet there in India."

He was addressing the students of Classes 11 and 12 of the Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya at the President Estate. This was second year in a row that he met the students on the occasion of Teachers' Day.

Terming Secularism the strength of India, Mukherjee said: "Secularism is part of our life and it is still unfolding."

He said that post-Independence, there was communal disharmony, however, India should be glad that her leaders and statesmen kept the people united.

The President said: "Certainly, there was a problem of lack of harmony in between, but thanks to the great political leaders and the statesmen who kept the people united. The situation was problematic because after Independence people had to move from one place to another."

In India, September 5 is celebrated as Teachers' Day, which is the birth anniversary of India's second President, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (September 5, 1888). 

Radhakrishnan was a staunch believer in education, and was a well-known statesman and scholar. The former President was above all, a teacher. The occasion is a mark of tribute to the contribution made by teachers to the society.