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Sunday, October 12, 2025
HomeOpinionGreat Speeches

Great Speeches

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.

We want heart unity, not paper unity that will break under the slightest strain: Sardar Patel

In 1931, Vallabhbhai Patel delivered his presidential address at the Karachi Congress Session, stating that communal unity was essential for India and required courage from Hindus.

For the fundamentalist, secular is dirtiest of dirty words: Rushdie on The Satanic Verses fatwa

In February 1993, Salman Rushdie addressed an audience at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge University, marking the fourth anniversary of the 1989 fatwa issued against him following the publication of The Satanic Verses.

A warped, tragic reincarnation of Hinduism calls itself nationalism: Rajmohan Gandhi

On 12 September 1991, during a debate on the Places of Worship (Special Provisions Bill) in the Rajya Sabha, Rajmohan Gandhi warned that those seeking to right the wrongs of history will only produce destruction.

I like Hindutva of Vivekananda, not the one based on narrow-mindedness: Atal Bihari Vajpayee

On 30 April 2002, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke in the Lok Sabha during a debate on the administration's failure to ensure the security of the minority community in India, particularly in Gujarat.

What clothes we wear is unimportant. What is important is how we are thinking: Indira Gandhi

On 23 November 1974, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi delivered a speech at the Indraprastha College for Women in New Dehli, highlighting what educated women can and should do.

On Camera

Zubeen Garg saga is resembling Sushant Singh Rajput. Did we not learn our lesson?

Oceans sit between the Assamese singer and the Bollywood actor. But what their deaths reveal is a study in human behaviour as performed in the public sphere.

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.