The Hindu : New Delhi News : A low-key birthday today for President Pratibha Patil

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Wednesday, Dec 19, 2007
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A low-key birthday today for President Pratibha Patil

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Pratibha Patil will gift blankets and sweaters to the underprivileged, TV to inmates of Asha Kiran

NEW DELHI: There will be no fanfare and no beating of drums on Wednesday to mark the 73rd birthday of President Pratibha Patil. She has instead chosen to celebrate the occasion with the lesser privileged and by planting a tree. It is learnt that Ms. Patil had desired a simple celebration sans grand ceremonies and extravagant presents. The itinerary for the day will include visits by the Vice-President and the Prime Minister along with a host of other dignitaries.

The President will then plant a jamun tree at Rashtrapati Bhavan where a Nakshatra Garden has been planned. The special garden will have 27 trees, one for each of the nakshatras (stars), which will be later opened to the public.

“The President is a very caring person and she does not believe in brouhaha…. she wants a low-key affair and that is exactly how it will be,” said a source in the President’s Secretariat. However, Ms. Patil will spend time with the underprivileged at the Home for the Dying and Destitute run by the Missionaries of Charity and Asha Kiran, a home for the mentally challenged. She will also meet the old and the infirm and gift them blankets and sweaters, while the inmates of Asha Kiran will get a television set as a present.

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