The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee received first copies of the books (a) ‘Thoughts and Reflections’-a compilation of Quotes of the President (b) ‘Winged Wonders of Rashtrapati Bhavan’ on the birds of the President’s Estate and (c) ‘Indradhanush’ on the cultural events organized in Rashtrapati Bhavan at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (July 25, 2014).
The book ‘Thoughts and Reflections’ was released by the Vice President of India, Shri Hamid Ansari. The other two books, ‘Winged Wonders of Rashtrapati Bhavan’ and ‘Indradhanush’, were released by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.
‘‘Thoughts and Reflections’ is a compilation of quotes of the President. It is an attempt to capture the essence of the President’s thinking and present before the readers a spectrum of his ideas and views on India-its culture and values, democracy and its institutions, inclusive development, youth, education, research and innovation.
‘Winged Wonders of Rashtrapati Bhavan’ written by Dr. Thomas Mathew, Additional Secretary to the President, took over twelve months of time in capturing on camera and documenting one hundred and eleven species of birds that inhabit or visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan Estate. The book adds to the existing literature on the subject, particularly with regard to the President’s Estate. For each of the species recorded, the book provides the location, date and time of the sighting. It also carries forward an earlier study done in 2002-03 on ninety-one species of birds in Rashtrapati Bhavan by the Bombay Natural History Society. The entire exercise of surveying, spotting and photographing the birds started under the directions of the President who is himself a nature and bird lover. The Rashtrapati Bhavan has excellent open spaces, forest cover and thousands of fruit bearing plants and trees that act as a magnet for birds.
‘Indradhanush’ is a compendium of music, dance and cinematic events organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan since August 2012 which embodies the concept of cultural heritage presented before the President of India. This book is first in the series of a multi-volume documentation project on various aspects of Rashtrapati Bhavan in collaboration with IGNCA.
The books ‘Winged Wonders of Rashtrapati Bhavan’ and ‘Indradhanush’ have been published by Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India.
