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Monday, February 23, 2026
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Great Speeches

What Indira Gandhi said in her first speech as PM, 60 years ago

On 26 January 1966, Indira Gandhi delivered a speech that was broadcast over All India Radio. This was her first address to the nation after becoming India’s first woman prime minister.

Islam has significantly contributed to Indian culture. It’s not foreign to us: Vajpayee in Iran

In April 2001, Atal Bihari Vajpayee delivered an address to the Majlis of the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighting commonalities between India and Iran, while calling for stronger ties.

Loyalty to the country is above all other loyalties: Lal Bahadur Shastri at AMU

On 19 December 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri delivered an address at the convocation of the Aligarh Muslim University, outlining the role education plays in shaping citizens in a democracy.

If there are many intellectuals in society, we should be nervous: PG Mavalankar

On 30 October 1979, political scientist PG Mavalankar delivered an address at the 14th AD Shroff Memorial Lecture in Bombay, outlining the roles and responsibilities of intellectuals in society.

Mahabharata shaped my personality: EMS Namboodiripad

On 25 November 1995, EMS Namboodiripad delivered a speech in New Delhi as part of a talk on 'Books and Man.' He spoke about how he changed from a Gandhian to a Nehruvian to a communist.

Atomic energy can be used for peaceful purposes, to the immense advantage of humanity: Nehru

In his Lok Sabha speech on 10 May 1954, Jawaharlal Nehru examined nuclear weapons, peaceful atomic energy, and the risks of unequal international control.

Though India pursued a different path, we admired Lenin, were influenced by his example: Nehru

On 22 June 1955, Jawaharlal Nehru addressed an audience in Moscow during his first visit to the Soviet Union as India’s PM.

A man should leave politics after 55 years: BR Ambedkar

On 27 October 1951, Dr BR Ambedkar addressed voters in Jalandhar during his campaign for the first Lok Sabha election, speaking about political power, safeguards, and the future of the SCs in independent India.

People often say that the Congress is dead or dying and I just laugh: Nehru

'Any organisation that has an easy time is corrupted by it. I like opposition to grow up to oppose the Congress,' Nehru said during India's first general election campaign in 1951-52.

Communists are shy of daylight. There’s something wrong with their ideology: C Rajagopalachari

On 23 May 1953, C Rajagopalachari delivered a speech at the Malabar District Political Conference in Palghat, examining the rise and fall of communism in India.

On Camera

Nick Jonas wearing a mangalsutra is validation for many Indians. He’s our favourite jiju

Nick Jonas is not trying to modernise the mangalsutra, but his gesture shows that choices can be equal. If commitment must be flaunted, it need not be gendered.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

Suspected brake failure leads to Tejas accident after landing, airframe likely to be written off

The IAF, so far, remains mum on this accident which has led to grounding of the fleet for safety checks.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.