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Friday, December 12, 2025
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Great Speeches

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.

Why public intellectuals don’t confront authority today: Romila Thapar

On 26 October 2014, professor Romila Thapar delivered the Third Nikhil Chakravartty Memorial lecture, reflecting on the eroding space for public intellectuals in India.

No place for armed liberation struggle in a democracy: P Chidambaram on Left-wing extremism

On 14 September 2009, then-home minister P Chidambaram spoke to senior police chiefs in New Delhi, outlining internal security threats such as Naxalism and insurgencies.

If Pakistan doesn’t halt aggression, India may be compelled to enter Pakistan: VK Menon at UN

On 23-24 January 1957, VK Krishna Menon delivered a historic speech at UN Security Council defending India’s position on Kashmir.

Pakistan knows cost of hostility. Our govt won’t tolerate incursion: Vajpayee during Kargil War

In May 1999, Pakistani troops crossed the Line of Control in Kargil, occupying strategic heights. On 7 June 1999, then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed the nation, condemning Pakistan’s invasion and rallying India to defend its borders.

‘Count OBCs or face our anger’: Gopinath Munde’s caste census demand in 2010 Lok Sabha

On 6 May 2010, BJP leader Gopinath Munde warned that not counting OBCs in the caste census would mean denying social justice to more than half the country for another decade.

India produced scholars, scientists. Pakistan, what did you produce? Terrorists: Sushma Swaraj

On 23 September 2017, then-Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj delivered a powerful rebuke to Pakistan during her address at the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Away with Brahmin school-masters, we need schools for Shudras: Jyotirao Phule

In his powerful deposition before the Hunter Commission in 1881, Jyotirao Phule urged the British government to open its eyes to a 'pernicious system of high-class education.'

Delimitation is secondary. First, avoid tyranny of majority & don’t waste votes: K Rama Rao

On 22 December 1952, during a debate on the Delimitation Commission Bill in Rajya Sabha, legislator and freedom fighter K Rama Rao criticised India's electoral representation structure and called for deeper reforms.

On Camera

IndiGo cancellations made TV news do the unexpected — question the Modi government

Republic TV was the harshest of them all: “The (civil aviation) minister has done a bad job,” said prime time anchor Arnab Goswami.

IndiGo’s profits dipped, most airlines sunk into losses last fiscal even as flier numbers soared

Despite growing passenger volume, 11 out of 14 carriers reported losses in 2023-24. IndiGo recorded profit of Rs 8,167 crore, which reduced to Rs 7.253 crore in 2024-25.

Dubai Tejas crash revives focus on advanced, fully automated safety systems

Dubai airshow crash & pilot death have rekindled concerns over pilot safety, and need for smarter automated systems that can step in when G-forces, temporary loss of consciousness hit the pilot.

Asim Munir & Pakistan’s Failed Marshal Doctrine

None of Pakistan’s PMs has lasted 5 years. That the current PM has given Asim Munir 5 years shows that of all military dictatorships history has seen, Pakistan’s is most creative.