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Sunday, October 12, 2025
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Great Speeches

Jihad against Hindus was declared in newspaper columns: SP Mookerjee on Great Calcutta Killings

On 20 September 1946, Hindu Mahasabha leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee delivered a speech in the Bengal Legislative Assembly condemning the violence during the Great Calcutta Killings. Here's an excerpt from the speech.

Feudals prevent SC/ST, minorities, women from voting: Rajiv Gandhi on electoral reforms

On 15 December 1988, PM Rajiv Gandhi spoke in the Lok Sabha while introducing comprehensive electoral reforms, including lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, and introducing measures to protect secular values in elections.

People of Assam, we’ll fight to the end until it’s victory for us: Nehru during Chinese invasion

On 19 November 1962, PM Jawaharlal Nehru addressed the people of Assam in a radio address and spoke of the resolve against Chinese attack, saying India won't tolerate this invasion.

Congress must show statesmanship, make concessions to the prejudices of Muslim League: Ambedkar

On 17 December 1946, BR Ambedkar addressed the Muslim League's absence from the Constituent Assembly, urging the Congress to show statesmanship and avoid Hindu-Muslim conflict through conciliation.

Limits on nuclear programme today will tie our hands in future: Vajpayee on India-US deal

On 3 August 2005, Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke in Lok Sabha and warned that the India-US nuclear deal could compromise India's strategic autonomy in the long run.

There’s poison of regionalism, linguism in Maharashtra. Condemn & remove it: YB Chavan

On 12 June 1967, Maharashtra’s first CM and then-Union home minister YB Chavan spoke in the Lok Sabha, stressing on eradicating language-based discrimination in the state.

It’s curious even scientists discard spirit of science in daily life, become unscientific: Nehru

On 22 April 1950, PM Nehru spoke at the opening of the Fuel Research Institute in Dhanbad, urging India to see science as a force against conservatism and a tool to think and act freely.

Moksha, not motor cars—BR Shenoy’s idea of a truly Indian welfare state

In a 1957 lecture, free-market economist BR Shenoy warned that India's welfare state must stay rooted in Dharma, not drift toward consumerist excess.

Not missiles or sovereignty, but social unity is the true force behind foreign policy: PN Haksar

In 1974, PN Haksar delivered the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture on the evolution of India's foreign policy. Here's an excerpt from his speech.

Tamil people do not bow in shame, nor lower their head in defeat: M Karunanidhi on Tamil pride

On 15 September 1986, the DMK stalwart delivered a stirring address in Chennai, weaving poetry with politics, defending Tamil cultural heritage while reflecting on electoral defeats with unwavering pride.

On Camera

If fundamental right to property can be taken away, so can all the others: AG Mulgaokar

If this step even partially achieves its desired results, there will be so much dislocation in the country’s economic structure as to prove a national calamity, advocate AG Mulgaokar wrote in 1969.

Niti Aayog recommends fully decriminalising 12 offences under new I-T Act to ‘foster more trust’

Recommendations appear in Niti Aayog’s Tax Policy Working Paper Series–II. It says there is a need to shift away from fear-based enforcement to trust-based governance.

India, UK sign £350 mn deal for Martlet. What are these Lightweight Multirole Missiles

In service with the British military since 2019, it is also known as the Martlet missile. Ukrainians have also deployed these missiles against Russian troops.

CJI, IPS, IAS & Homebound: A wake-up call 75 years in the making

Education, reservations, govt jobs are meant to bring equality and dignity. That we are a long way from that is evident in the shoe thrown at the CJI and the suicide of Haryana IPS officer. The film Homebound has a lesson too.