In the last 76 years, India has undergone a unique development journey. In this journey, the Constitution has been our moral compass, indeed our guiding light on all matters of governance. Our progressive Constitution with the ideals of inclusion, social justice and democratic ethos, inspires our daily lives.

We are delighted to celebrate the journey of seventy five years of India’s Republic in your presence this evening. India is the world’s largest democracy, and one of the fastest growing major economies in the world today. A number of far reaching initiatives are propelling economic growth and encouraging spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Guided by the aim of “Viksit Bharat” – the roadmap to make India a developed country by 2047, India today is aspirational and energetic, while being rooted in our culture and traditions.  There is vibrancy and optimism about the India Story. The India Way is appreciated the world over, with its emphasis on being a responsible member of the global comity of nations, even as we pursue national interests and objectives.

As we celebrate seventy five years of India’s republic, what also stands out is the remarkable journey of the exemplary India-Bhutan partnership. The connection between our countries has been nurtured over centuries, on the bedrock of our shared Buddhist heritage and close people to people ties. Like India, Bhutan has traversed a remarkable trajectory in the last few decades, under the enlightened, visionary and benevolent leadership of Their Majesties.

Today, with His Majesty’s vision and plans for the Gelephu Mindfulness City, Dessung Skilling Program, the Gyalsung initiative, Bhutan is at the threshold of a dynamic and an exciting future. Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan is brimming with ambition and drive, and India is honoured to be a partner in Bhutan’s development. These initiatives, as I understand, are aimed at modernizing the nation’s economy and governance structure for rapid progress. And all this is being done, without losing focus on sustainability and the principles of GNH framework – areas where Bhutan has provided global leadership.   

With India’s goal of “Viksit Bharat 2047”, and Bhutan’s ambition to become a high-income economy by 2034, the destinies of our two countries remain linked to each other, through ties that are unique and special. As neighbours, but most importantly, as the closest of friends, our development trajectories have been and will be intertwined, driven and nurtured by the vision, wisdom and guidance of His Majesty, the Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan and the political leadership in India.

What has allowed our partnership to grow from strength-to-strength over decades is its agility in responding to the aspirations, hopes and dreams of our two peoples, and seizing the opportunities presented by the contemporary landscape. 2024 was a landmark year for our bilateral partnership. This is evident from the unprecedented number of high-level interactions, enabling us to realize concrete outcomes.

With strong political oversight in both our countries, it is no wonder that our partnership has rapidly progressed. From education to economy, health to hydro, sports to space, and from technology to trade, we have a robust roadmap for future advancement of our partnership across all sectors of cooperation.

I have had the honour to be associated with the extraordinary India-Bhutan partnership for over two decades. The kind of energy I have witnessed in our partnership in the recent past is simply unparalleled.

India and Bhutan will continue to walk shoulder-to-shoulder, in unison and harmony, as we respond to an increasingly complex world, guided by the shared aim of building a better and brighter future for our peoples.

I am convinced that the journey ahead for the India-Bhutan partnership is one of tremendous potential and opportunities, and everyone present here today will have a special role to play in realizing this potential.

I take this opportunity to thank all my friends and partners in Bhutan for their strong support, encouragement, and wise counsel to me all these years in our common efforts to expand the horizons of our extraordinary ties of friendship, looking into the future.

An excerpt from Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhakar Dalelas’s remarks at the reception of the 27th Republic Day of India