India a successful democracy: PM

Describing India as a "unique" country, Manmohan says the world now recognises this fact as never before.

Commending the historic role played by freedom fighters during the struggle for independence, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said India, despite its "tremendous" diversity has emerged as a successful democracy.

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"Despite tremendous diversities, we have emerged as a successful functioning democracy," Singh said after receiving the first copy of the 2007 calendar from UPA Chairperson and Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi at a function in New Delhi.

Describing India as a "unique" country, the prime minister said, "There is no country of India's size, of India's diversity, of India's complexity, trying to seek its economic and social salvation in the framework of rigorously functioning democracy committed to the rule of law and respect for fundamental human freedoms."

"This fact is now recognised as never before in the world and it is only appropriate that our children should not forget the message of our freedom struggle," he said.

Gandhi released the calendar, brought out by the ministry of information and broadcasting, and presented its first copy to Singh.