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Saturday, November 22, 2025
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Great Speeches

I did nothing wrong. Upper castes see Dalits as insects, I showed them I’m human: Phoolan Devi

At the 2001 Aalmi Mushaira in Dubai, Phoolan Devi spoke of survival, injustice, and defiance—rejecting the 'dacoit' label and demanding dignity for the oppressed.

US press doubted our unity, democracy, and ability to survive. Here I am again: Indira Gandhi

On 5 November 1971, at the National Press Club, PM Indira Gandhi spoke about India's resilience, political change, and the burden of the Bangladesh refugee crisis.

Our blood boils when we sense danger to Tamil. Love for mother tongue is Godliness: CN Annadurai

On 15 April 1967, CN Annadurai spoke at the Bureau of Tamil Publications ceremony in Madras, defending Tamil's legacy and opposing Hindi imposition in India.

Ayurveda is a perfect science: Morarji Desai

On 25 June 1977, Prime Minister Morarji Desai addressed a conference in New Delhi where he urged Ayurveda practitioners to adopt a missionary spirit.

Universities should develop personality, otherwise learning is worthless: C Rajagopalachari

On 8 August 1949, India’s last Governor-General C Rajagopalachari spoke about the state of higher education in India and its shortcomings at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

India will never remain united if we try for uniformity: IK Gujral

On 1 September 1997, Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral delivered a speech in the Lok Sabha on the state of democracy, democratic institutions, and the economic situation in India as the country marked 50 years of independence.

No room for pessimism—What Shanmukham Chetty said in free India’s first budget speech

On 26 November 1947, RK Shanmukham Chetty presented the first budget of independent India, calling for help and co-operation in maintaining peace, increasing production, and avoiding internecine quarrels.

Will it be India of Buddha, Ashoka, Nehru, or of those who don’t like them: Ramdhari Singh Dinkar

On 20 May 1952, poet and freedom fighter Ramdhari Singh Dinkar delivered his Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha, speaking about India’s future and the importance of unity.

Easier to throw off foreign tyranny than tyranny of elected representative: Nani Palkhivala

In 1971, Nani Palkhivala delivered a speech at the Loyola College in Chennai, where he bitterly criticised the 24th, 25th, and 26th amendments to the Indian Constitution.

When we know how a nation doles out justice, we know its moral character: Ram Jethmalani

On 6 September 2003, eminent jurist Ram Jethmalani delivered the Nani Palkhivala Memorial Lecture, where he spoke about the the judicial system, stressing on the need for urgent reform.

On Camera

Trump’s 28 points for Ukraine add up to a no-go at peace

Two questions are pertinent: Why does the Trump administration keep making the same mistakes on the peace proposal? And what does a hurried peace plan mean on the ground?

At Charcha 2025: Local entrepreneurship, not just big IT, will drive next wave of distributed AI work

While global corporations setting up GCCs in India continue to express confidence in availability of skilled AI engineers, the panel argued that India’s real challenge lies elsewhere.

Tejas fighter aircraft crashes at Dubai Air Show, IAF confirms pilot’s death

This is the second such incident after a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas had crashed into a hostel on the outskirts of Jaisalmer in March last year.

INDIA has a Congress-sized hole. And the fix begins with a little humility

Without a Congress revival, there can be no challenge to the BJP pan-nationally. Modi’s party is growing, and almost entirely at the cost of the Congress.