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Saturday, July 19, 2025
TopicGreat Speeches

Topic: Great Speeches

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.

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.

On Camera

Fauja Singh’s death shows Indian roads remain a national emergency—474 lives lost every day

Fauja Singh, 114, died after being hit by a speeding car. His death renews questions about India’s deadly roads, rising accidents, and poor traffic discipline.

India-US set to ink mini trade deal soon, reach understanding on agricultural & dairy products

Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.

Not just AK-203, India & Russia to jointly manufacture AK-19 and PPK-20 for domestic use and export 

India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.

Strategic partner one day, tactical nightmare the next: India’s learning Trumplomacy the hard way

Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.