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Sunday, October 12, 2025
HomeOpinionGreat Speeches

Great Speeches

I guarantee 100% defeat: Sam Manekshaw to Indira Gandhi when she pushed for war with Pakistan

In November 1998, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw delivered a lecture on leadership at the St Xavier's College, Bombay.

Election Commission can’t be a kingdom within a kingdom; it needs central oversight: KM Munshi

On 16 June 1949, KM Munshi argued in the Constituent Assembly that the election commission must balance independence with central oversight to ensure impartiality and practicality.

Don’t make people endure marriage. Not allowing divorce in Indian law is cruel: Hiren Mukherjee

On 17 September 1954, during a debate on the Special Marriage Bill, CPI MP Hirendranath Mukherjee argued that marriage as an institution must evolve to reflect human dignity and compassion.

Communism’s language is of violence, its thought is violent: Nehru

On 15 August 1958, the AICC’s Economic Review published an article by Jawaharlal Nehru titled 'The Basic Approach', in which he discussed how communism’s approach conflicted with the ideals promoted by Gandhi.

Neither retaliation nor revenge—Sardar Patel’s appeal for peace after Partition violence

On 12 September 1947, deputy PM Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the nation 'with a heavy heart and in obedience to the call of duty' to call for an end to the communal violence and unspeakable brutalities.

Israel must vacate the land of Arabs it has occupied: Atal Bihari Vajpayee

On 24 March 1977, Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressed a rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi following the Janata Party's victory in the Lok Sabha elections, which unseated Congress from power for the first time.

I told General Yahya Khan that this time the fight is for freedom—Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

On 7 March 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman addressed a gathering of about 10 lakh people in Dhaka declaring Bangladesh's independence 18 days before the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Ratan Tata once asked: ‘Where did Amazon, Apple, Microsoft come from?’

On 29 January 2013, Ratan Tata addressed students at the third Yuva Summit held at Karnataka's BVB College of Engineering & Technology, encouraging them to break away from conformity and take chances.

Make it a Fundamental Right of every religionist to propagate, convert: TT Krishnamachari

On 6 December 1948, TT Krishnamachari spoke in the Constituent Assembly during a debate on Article 19, supporting it as it is, including how it's framed in the matter of religion.

It’s time for the space programme to add to India’s economy: APJ Abdul Kalam

On 10 October 2003, India's then-President APJ Abdul Kalam addressed the memebers of the ISRO community recalling his association and the various successful missions.

On Camera

No Mamata Banerjee, women’s safety isn’t a curfew issue

For Indian women, the smallest unit of control becomes the family; the largest, the State. Both speak the same language.

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.