Where the soul of democracy resides

The true heart of India resides in the soil of its villages - a heart that beats with the first rays of the morning sun, speaks through the voices echoing in village squares, and breathes in the decisions made in panchayat halls.

- RK JAIN 'ARIJEET'

The air here carries the scent of hard work, the lanes resonate with the sound of unity, and the village assemblies pulse with the vibrancy of democracy.

When a farmer openly shares concerns about the crop, when a woman stands firm and challenges societal norms, or when a youth weaves dreams for the village's future - that is when India's democracy paints its most beautiful picture.

This is the strength, the magic that we celebrate every year on 24 April as National Panchayati Raj Day.

This day is a celebration of the authority, self-reliance, and decision-making saga of villages.

It reminds us that India's true power lies not in the corridors of Delhi or the dazzle of big cities, but in the simple village squares where every voice matters.

In 1992, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment gave panchayati raj not just legal but constitutional strength.

This was no ordinary law; it was a revolution that shook the old structures of power.

Power was no longer confined to the offices of capitals; it reached the footpaths, fields, and panchayat halls of villages.

This amendment did not merely make villagers beneficiaries of schemes - it made them creators, implementers, and overseers of those schemes.

Villages gained the right to determine their own needs.

Where a road should be built, what improvements are needed in schools, where a well should be dug - these decisions began to be made in village meetings.

This was not just an administrative change; it was a social, cultural, and psychological revolution that restored the lost dignity and identity of villages.