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Great Speeches

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.'

Piloo Mody on Russian ‘friendship’ trap and how India paid the price when shopping for arms

On 21 April 1975, Godhra MP and founding member of Swatantra Party spoke in the Lok Sabha during a debate on defence expenditure and purchase of arms. 'We have been, especially since the last war with Pakistan, shopping round the world.'

Keep doing Hindu-Muslim if you want to come down to 6 seats from 182—Ram Vilas Paswan

On 10 December 1998, then-Hajipur MP spoke in the Lok Sabha on a discussion on atrocities committed on minorities in various parts of the country. 'If we learn to interpret the word 'minorities' correctly, I believe we will develop a feeling that those we are fighting against are the same blood as us.'

Communal spirit shouldn’t enter institutions. Don’t call AMU Muslim university, BHU Hindu—Nehru

‘The past holds us together; why should the present or the future divide us in spirit’, Jawaharlal Nehru said at his convocation address to Aligarh Muslim University students in 1948.

No insult to Ayurveda. AIIMS an attempt to bring good standards of medical education—Amrit Kaur

On 18 February 1956, 'Rajkumari' Amrit Kaur, India's first health minister, moved the Bill in Lok Sabha for the establishment of AIIMS in Delhi. She wanted it to have the powers and functions of a university because it will 'probably make revolutionary changes in curriculum as well as in modes of teaching'.

‘I am Pramod Mahajan. I belong to the single largest party and I am in the Opposition’

‘Gradually, opportunities to become Prime Minister in this Lok Sabha will increase for those who don't have any party’ said BJP’s Pramod Mahajan in Lok Sabha on 11 April 1997.

On Camera

Pakistan will regret letting the Army back in

While the "establishment" has enjoyed a large share of power, last week's constitutional amendments gave Army chief Asim Munir additional powers and lifelong immunity from prosecution.

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.

A tribute to Tejas. India’s delay culture is the real enemy in the skies

It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.