Ram Nath Kovind Sworned In as 14th President

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India's 14th President Ram Nath Kovind took oath in Parliament's Central Hall in a today in a ceremony that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the lawmakers.

 "I am thankful to you all for giving me the responsibility to be the President of India," Mr Kovind said in his address. "I come from a humble background. The journey has been long." "I will stand by and represent all 125 crore fellow Indians. I understand the massive responsibility that this is. Former Presidents -- from Rajendra Prasad to Pranab Mukherjee -- all have been great leaders.... I hope to live up to that greatness," he said.

The 71-year-old former Governor of Bihar is the second Dalit president after KR Narayanan. He is also the first President to have been a member of the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

 Mr Kovind began the day with a visit to Rajghat, where he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. He then arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, where he was greeted by President Mukherjee. 

 In Parliament, 22 members of Mr Kovind's family watched him take oath. "This is the first time we are entering Parliament. It is a proud moment for us. All of Uttar Pradesh is happy, for the first time a person from the state is becoming President," said Deepak Kovnd, Mr Kovind's nephew. 

 After the ceremony, Pranab Mukherjee will give the new President a tour of the Rashtrapati Bhawan and will then head for 10, Rajaji Marg, where a freshly-painted British-era bungalow with sloping red-tiled roof and fitted with chimneys, wide lawns and gardens awaits its new resident.

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