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Saturday, January 3, 2026
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Great Speeches

People often say that the Congress is dead or dying and I just laugh: Nehru

'Any organisation that has an easy time is corrupted by it. I like opposition to grow up to oppose the Congress,' Nehru said during India's first general election campaign in 1951-52.

Communists are shy of daylight. There’s something wrong with their ideology: C Rajagopalachari

On 23 May 1953, C Rajagopalachari delivered a speech at the Malabar District Political Conference in Palghat, examining the rise and fall of communism in India.

If there’s any group who has the right to rule over India, it’s Adivasis: Jaipal Singh Munda

On 24 August 1949, Jaipal Singh Munda, the driving force behind the Jharkhand movement, argued for political representation and self-governance for the tribal community in the Constituent Assembly.

Thorium utilisation is where India’s nuclear renaissance truly begins: Anil Kakodkar

From fast breeder reactors to accelerator systems, Anil Kakodkar’s 2006 address traced India’s path beyond uranium on Dr Homi Bhabha’s 97th birth anniversary.

Surprising how little this country is grateful to Sardar Patel: Nani Palkhivala

In 1992, Nani Palkhivala delivered the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture, outlining Patel’s enduring relevance and his role in shaping modern India.

Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs joined under Sheikh Abdullah to defeat Pakistan, save Kashmir: Nehru

On 25 November 1947, a month after J&K’s accession to India, PM Nehru spoke in the Constituent Assembly, explaining the circumstances that led to India’s military intervention in Kashmir.

I want to assure the people of J&K—if mistakes were made, we will correct them: Vajpayee

On 15 August 2002, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee delivered a speech outlining the many challenges facing India — from terrorism, poverty to natural disasters — while calling for national unity to take the nation forward.

India must fight terror but avoid being seen as acting at America’s behest: G Parthasarathy

On 19 June 2004, G Parthasarathy, India's former Ambassador to several countries, spoke at the Nani Palkhivala Memorial Lecture, examining India’s foreign policy challenges in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

The RSS should be instrumental in bringing a revolution in India: Jayaprakash Narayan

On 3 November 1977, socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan delivered an address to RSS swayamsevaks in Patna, challenging the Sangh to transcend Hindu communalism and embrace a national vision.

We can’t just blame Muslims and Englishmen for shattered Hindu unity: RSS chief Deoras

In May 1974, RSS chief Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras spoke at a lecture series in Pune about caste-based discrimination and social equality within the Hindu fold.

On Camera

Indian bureaucracy should be given incentives and rewards: MH Mody

Is there a place for a counter-bureaucracy, or a separate and competing bureaucracy to counterbalance the force of the executive’s bureaucracy, asked author MH Mody in 1980.

India’s urban co-op banks are turning the page—crisis to cautious revival, one metric at a time

With bad loans shrinking & capital buffers stronger, urban co-op banks’ new umbrella body NUCFDC is now prioritising rollout of digital transformation.

Greece looking at TATA’s WhAP infantry combat vehicle for army procurement

If deal goes through, Greece will be 2nd foreign country to procure vehicle. Morocco was first; TATA Group has set up manufacturing unit there with minimum 30 percent indigenous content.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.