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Sunday, October 12, 2025
HomeOpinionGreat Speeches

Great Speeches

People are losing hope and they feel nothing will come out of any govt: Jayaprakash Narayan

On 8 June 1969, Jayaprakash Narayan addressed the National Conference on Voluntary Agencies at the Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi where he said he sympathised with Naxalites because they are 'doing something for the poor'.

I am a Brahmin, my wife a Chishti & a Mysorean Rajput. Our son is an Indian: Sitaram Yechury

In his Rajya Sabha farewell speech on 10 August 2017, Sitaram Yechury spoke about living in a post-truth period, where 'objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.'

Leave education to universities, limit UGC role to grants—SN Bose in Rajya Sabha

On 21 March 1955, Prof SN Bose participated in a debate on the UGC Bill and expressed concern about certain clauses that suggested 'the central government will be interfering with the working of universities'.

Poverty analysis should go beyond income level—Amartya Sen at Nobel Prize lecture

On 8 December 1998, Amartya Sen delivered his Nobel Prize lecture at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he discussed the challenges and foundational problems faced by social choice theory as a discipline.

Any Bengali who wears a lungi & has a job is considered Bangladeshi—PR Dasmunsi

'I am sorry to say that our whole attention in the country is towards Muslims. It is so because it suits us,' said PR Dasmunsi during a Lok Sabha debate on illegal immigration on 9 May 1997.

Tear up sarees to make Indian flag—Sarojini Naidu saved India from humiliation in Berlin

On 22 July 1947, Sarojini Naidu spoke in the Constituent Assembly during a discussion regarding the resolution on national flag.

Indira Gandhi in Dhaka—Your fight a saga of courage, flame of justice that keeps nation alive

On 17 March 1972, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi shared the stage with 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a public rally in Dhaka and expressed admiration for Bangladesh's struggle for independence and reaffirmed India's support.

If you want an efficient all-India service, allow them to open their mouth freely—Sardar Patel

On 10 October 1949, during the Constituent Assembly debate, Vallabhbhai Patel strongly defended the civil services and the guarantees provided to them during the transfer of power from British rule.

Keep pace with science and technology in other countries or India won’t develop—JRD Tata

On 15 January 1962, JRD Tata delivered a speech at the inauguration of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Maharashtra, praising Dr Homi Bhabha for his role in the establishment and development of the institute.

When Indian economy was liberalised—Manmohan Singh’s 1991 Budget speech

On 24 July 1991, finance minister Manmohan Singh presented the Union Budget for 1991-92 that changed the course of Indian economy. In his Lok Sabha speech, he quoted Victor Hugo to say, 'no power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come.'

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.