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Great Speeches

Loyalty to British seemed easier than loyalty to authority of our own democracy: Rajagopalachari

On 20 August 1948, C Rajagopalachari delivered an address in Bangalore, speaking about respecting democratic authority, maintaining order in free India, and everyday civic responsibility.

Patel’s 1950 letter to Nehru: Find no legal power to deal with Press or men like Syama Prasad

Less than a year before the First Constitutional Amendment, Patel wrote to Nehru about Supreme Court rulings that had 'knocked the bottom out' of press control laws.

How Nehru defended restrictions on freedom of speech and the press

On 29 May 1951, Jawaharlal Nehru defended adding 'reasonable restrictions' to Article 19, arguing that free speech must be balanced with national security and unity.

Reconciling religion and science is the only way to find peace and happiness: Zakir Husain

On 7 December 1968, Dr Zakir Husain delivered an address at the tri-decennial celebrations of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Bombay, explaining why it’s important to pursue science and religion together.

Rising numbers of unemployed graduates will destabilise social structure: Kalam at UGC event

On 28 December 2003, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam delivered an address to mark the 50th anniversary of the UGC in New Delhi, outlining the role of the education sector and universities in national development.

What Indira Gandhi said in her first speech as PM, 60 years ago

On 26 January 1966, Indira Gandhi delivered a speech that was broadcast over All India Radio. This was her first address to the nation after becoming India’s first woman prime minister.

Islam has significantly contributed to Indian culture. It’s not foreign to us: Vajpayee in Iran

In April 2001, Atal Bihari Vajpayee delivered an address to the Majlis of the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighting commonalities between India and Iran, while calling for stronger ties.

Loyalty to the country is above all other loyalties: Lal Bahadur Shastri at AMU

On 19 December 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri delivered an address at the convocation of the Aligarh Muslim University, outlining the role education plays in shaping citizens in a democracy.

If there are many intellectuals in society, we should be nervous: PG Mavalankar

On 30 October 1979, political scientist PG Mavalankar delivered an address at the 14th AD Shroff Memorial Lecture in Bombay, outlining the roles and responsibilities of intellectuals in society.

Mahabharata shaped my personality: EMS Namboodiripad

On 25 November 1995, EMS Namboodiripad delivered a speech in New Delhi as part of a talk on 'Books and Man.' He spoke about how he changed from a Gandhian to a Nehruvian to a communist.

On Camera

Maach & mutton for Mission Bengal. What BJP-TMC are cooking in new poll battleground

The stereotype of the fish-loving Bengali has now become a contested political site and both the BJP and TMC know it. And the voters do too.

SEBI proposes return of open market share buybacks to support stocks

Regulator seeks feedback on allowing firms to repurchase shares via exchanges after tax changes, as markets reel from war-led selloff and foreign outflows.

South Korea’s Cheongung-II missile system makes its mark in West Asia war. Here’s why

UAE has been using this defence system, which is similar to America's Patriots, against Iranian missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

China insulated itself against energy shocks. India is ‘all talk, no walk’

China patiently invested capital, skill and technology in coal gasification. Unlike it, we won’t move from words to action. As crude prices decline, we lose interest.