1.#Thursday 20, November 2O25, 5:30. 4042./1#PM News Updates: PM delivers the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture: 17 Nov, 2025Print News./ 2.##PM’s speech delivered at the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture in New Delhi: 17 Nov, 2025Print News.//3.###PM shares glimpses from his speech delivered at the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture in New Delhi: 18 Nov, 2025Print News.///

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1.#Thursday 20, November 2O25, 5:30. 4042./

1#PM News Updates: PM delivers the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture: 17 Nov, 2025Print News./

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Video:PM Modi addresses the Ramnath Goenka Lecture

PM delivers the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture

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Comments:

India is eager to become developed, India is eager to become self-reliant: PM

India is not just an emerging market, India is also an emerging model: PM

Today, the world sees the Indian Growth Model as a model of hope: PM

We are continuously working on the mission of saturation; Not a single beneficiary should be left out from the benefits of any scheme: PM

In our new National Education Policy, we have given special emphasis to education in local languages: PM

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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi delivered the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture organised by The Indian Express in New Delhi today. Shri Modi remarked that today we have gathered to honour a distinguished personality who elevated the power of democracy, journalism, expression, and public movements in India. He highlighted that Shri Ramnath Goenka, as a visionary, an institution builder, a nationalist, and a media leader, established the Indian Express Group not merely as a newspaper but as a mission among the people of India. The Prime Minister noted that under his leadership, the group became a voice for India’s democratic values and national interests. He emphasized that in this era of the 21st century, as India moves forward with the resolve to become developed, Shri Ramnath Goenka’s commitment, efforts, and vision serve as a great source of inspiration. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Indian Express Group for inviting him to deliver this lecture and extended his greetings to all present.

Highlighting that Shri Ramnath Goenka drew deep inspiration from a shloka in the Bhagavad Gita, explaining that this teaching—of performing one’s duty with equanimity towards joy and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat—was deeply embedded in Ramnath Ji’s life and work. Shri Modi remarked that Shri Ramnath Goenka upheld this principle throughout his life, placing duty above all else. He noted that Ramnath Ji supported the Indian National Congress during the freedom movement, later backed the Janata Party, and even contested elections on a Jan Sangh ticket. Regardless of ideology, he always prioritized national interest. The Prime Minister stated that those who worked with Ramnath Ji over the years often recount numerous anecdotes he shared. He recalled how, after Independence, when the issue of atrocities by the Razakars in Hyderabad arose, Ramnath Ji assisted Sardar Patel. In the 1970s, when the student movement in Bihar needed leadership, Ramnath Ji, along with Nanaji Deshmukh, persuaded Shri Jayaprakash Narayan to lead the movement. During the Emergency, when one of the then Prime Minister’s closest ministers summoned and threatened Ramnath Ji with imprisonment, his bold response became part of history’s hidden records. The Prime Minister remarked that while some of these accounts are public and others remain undisclosed, they all reflect Ramnath Ji’s unwavering commitment to truth and his steadfast adherence to duty, regardless of the power he faced.

Shri Modi remarked that Shri Ramnath Goenka was often described as being impatient—not in a negative sense, but in a positive one. He highlighted that it was the kind of impatience that drives the highest levels of effort for change, the kind that stirs still waters into motion. The Prime Minister drew a parallel, stating “today’s India too is impatient—impatient to become developed, impatient to become self-reliant”. He observed that the first twenty-five years of the 21st century have passed swiftly, bringing one challenge after another, yet none could halt India’s momentum.

Noting that the past four to five years have been filled with global challenges, the Prime Minister said that in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted economies worldwide, creating widespread uncertainty. The global supply chain was severely impacted, and the world began to drift towards despair. As conditions began to stabilize, turmoil emerged in neighbouring countries. Amidst these crises, India’s economy demonstrated resilience by achieving a high growth rate. Shri Modi highlighted that in 2022, the European crisis affected global supply chains and energy markets, impacting the entire world. Despite this, India’s economic growth continued strongly through 2022–23. In 2023, even as conditions deteriorated in West Asia, India’s growth rate remained robust. He emphasized that even this year, in the face of global instability, India’s growth rate is hovering around seven percent.

“At a time when the world is fearful of disruption, India is confidently moving in the direction of a bright future”, exclaimed the Prime Minister, asserting, “India is not just an emerging market, but also an emerging model”. He highlighted that the world today views the Indian Growth Model as a Model of Hope.

Emphasising that a strong democracy is tested on many parameters, one of the most significant being public participation, Shri Modi noted that the level of people’s confidence and optimism in democracy is most visible during elections. Referring to the results announced on 14 November, he said they were historic, and alongside them, one crucial aspect stood out—no democracy can afford to ignore the increasing participation of its citizens. He pointed out that this time, Bihar recorded the highest voter turnout in its history, with women’s turnout approximately nine percent higher than that of men. He affirmed that this too is a victory of democracy.

Prime Minister Shri Modi remarked that the results in Bihar once again demonstrate the high aspirations of the people of India. He stated that today, citizens place their trust in political parties that work with sincerity to fulfil those aspirations and prioritize development. The Prime Minister respectfully urged every state government—regardless of ideology, whether Left, Right, or Centre—to take note of the lesson from Bihar’s results: the kind of governance delivered today will determine the future of political parties in the years to come. He pointed out that the opposition was given 15 years by the people of Bihar, and while they had the opportunity to contribute significantly to the state’s development, they chose the path of jungle raj. The Prime Minister asserted that the people of Bihar will never forget this betrayal. He emphasized that whether it is the central government or governments led by various parties in the states, the highest priority must be development—development and only development. Shri Modi called upon all state governments to compete in creating better investment environments, to compete in improving ease of doing business, and to compete in advancing development parameters. He stated that such efforts will earn the trust of the people.

Shri Modi remarked that following the Bihar election victory, some individuals—including certain media personalities sympathetic to him—have once again claimed that their party and himself operate in a constant 24×7 election mode. He countered this by stating that winning elections does not require being in election mode, but rather demands being in emotional mode round the clock. He emphasized that when there is an inner restlessness to not waste even a minute, to reduce the hardships of the poor, to provide employment, to ensure healthcare, and to fulfil the aspirations of the middle class, then continuous hard work becomes the driving force. The Prime Minister asserted that when governance is carried out with this emotion and commitment, the results are visible on election day—as was recently witnessed in Bihar.

Sharing an anecdote about Shri Ramnath Goenka receiving a Jan Sangh ticket from Vidisha, Shri Modi said at that time, a discussion took place between Ramnath Ji and Nanaji Deshmukh on whether the organization or the face was more important. Nanaji Deshmukh told Ramnath Ji that he only needed to come for filing his nomination and later to collect his victory certificate. Nanaji then led the campaign through party workers and ensured Ramnath Ji’s victory. Shri Modi clarified that his intention in sharing this story was not to suggest that candidates should only file nominations, but to highlight the dedication of countless workers of their party. He emphasized that lakhs of karyakartas have nurtured their party’s roots with their sweat and continue to do so. He added that in states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir, hundreds of karyakartas have even sacrificed their blood for the party. Shri Modi stated that for a party with such committed workers, the goal is not merely to win elections, but to win the hearts of the people through continuous service.

Emphasizing that for national development, it is essential that its benefits reach everyone, the Prime Minister stated that when government schemes reach the Dalits, the oppressed, the exploited, and the deprived, true social justice is ensured. He observed that in past decades, under the guise of social justice, certain parties and families pursued their own interests.

Shri Modi expressed satisfaction that today, the country is witnessing social justice being translated into reality. He elaborated on what true social justice means, citing the construction of 12 crore toilets which brought dignity to those forced to defecate in the open. He highlighted that 57 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts enabled financial inclusion for those whom previous governments did not even consider worthy of a bank account. He added that 4 crore pucca houses have empowered the poor to dream new dreams and enhanced their capacity to take risks.

Underlining the work done on social security over the past 11 years has been remarkable, the Prime Minister highlighted that today, nearly 94 crore Indians are covered under the social security net, compared to just 25 crore a decade ago. He emphasized that earlier, only 25 crore people benefitted from government social security schemes, whereas now that number has risen to 94 crore—this, he said, is true social justice. Shri Modi added that the government has not only expanded the social security net but is also working with a mission of saturation, ensuring that no eligible beneficiary is left out. He noted that when a government functions with the goal of reaching every beneficiary, it eliminates any scope for discrimination. As a result of such efforts, 25 crore people have overcome poverty in the last 11 years. He remarked that this is why the world today acknowledges that ‘democracy delivers’.

The Prime Minister further cited the Aspirational Districts Programme as another example. He urged people to study the initiative, pointing out that over 100 districts in the country were previously labelled as backward and then neglected by earlier governments. These districts were considered too difficult to develop, and officials posted there were often seen as being punished. He revealed that more than 25 crore citizens live in these backward districts, underscoring the scale and importance of inclusive development.

Prime Minister Shri Modi remarked that had these backward districts remained underdeveloped, India would not have been able to achieve development even in the next hundred years. He stated that this is why the government adopted a new strategy, bringing state governments on board and conducting detailed studies to identify how each district lagged on specific development parameters. Based on these insights, tailored strategies were formulated for each district. Shri Modi highlighted that the country’s best officers—bright and innovative minds—were deployed to these regions. These districts were no longer seen as backward but were redefined as Aspirational Districts. Today, many of these districts are outperforming other districts in their respective states on several development parameters.

Citing Bastar in Chhattisgarh as a notable example, Shri Modi recalled how journalists once needed permits from non-governmental entities more than from the administration to visit the area. Today, the same Bastar is progressing on the path of development. The Prime Minister noted that he was unsure how much coverage the Indian Express had given to the Bastar Olympics, but expressed that Shri Ramnath Goenka would have been very pleased to see how the youth of Bastar are now organizing events like the Bastar Olympics.

Pointing out that when discussing Bastar, it is essential to also address the issue of Naxalism, or Maoist terrorism, Shri Modi stated that while the influence of Naxalism is shrinking across the country, it remains increasingly active within the opposition party. He noted that for the past five decades, nearly every major state in India has been affected by Maoist extremism. The Prime Minister expressed regret that the opposition continued to nurture Maoist terrorism, which rejects the Indian Constitution. He added that they not only supported Naxalism in remote forested areas but also helped it take root in urban centres, even within major institutions.

Remarking that 10–15 years ago, urban Naxals had already entrenched themselves within the opposition, and today, they have transformed the party into what he termed the “Muslim League–Maoist Congress” (MMC). The Prime Minister asserted that this MMC has abandoned national interest for its own selfish motives and is increasingly becoming a threat to the unity of the country.

Prime Minister remarked that as India embarks on a new journey towards becoming a developed nation, the legacy of Shri Ramnath Goenka becomes even more relevant. He recalled how Ramnath Ji fiercely resisted British colonial rule, citing his editorial declaration: “I would rather shut down the newspaper than comply with British orders.” Shri Modi noted that during the Emergency, when another attempt was made to enslave the nation, Ramnath Ji once again stood firm. He highlighted that this year marks fifty years since the Emergency, and Indian Express had demonstrated then that even blank editorials could challenge the mindset that sought to enslave the people.

The Prime Minister further stated that he would speak in detail on the subject of freeing India from the mindset of slavery. He said this requires going back 190 years, even before the First War of Independence in 1857, to the year 1835, when British MP Thomas Babington Macaulay launched a major campaign to uproot India from its cultural foundations. Macaulay had declared his intent to create Indians who would look Indian but think like the British. To achieve this, he did not merely reform India’s education system—he destroyed it entirely. The Prime Minister quoted Mahatma Gandhi, who had said that India’s ancient education system was a beautiful tree that was uprooted and destroyed.

Noting that India’s traditional education system instilled pride in its culture and placed equal emphasis on both learning and skill development, Shri Modi stated that this was precisely why Macaulay sought to dismantle it—and succeeded. Macaulay ensured that British language and thought were given greater recognition during that era, and India paid the price for this in the centuries that followed. The Prime Minister noted that Macaulay broke India’s self-confidence and instilled a sense of inferiority. In one stroke, he discarded thousands of years of India’s knowledge, science, art, culture, and entire way of life.

Emphasizing that this was the moment when the seeds were sown for the belief that progress and greatness could only be achieved through foreign methods, Shri Modi said this mindset became even more entrenched after Independence. India’s education, economy, and societal aspirations became increasingly aligned with foreign models. The Prime Minister observed that pride in indigenous systems diminished, and the swadeshi foundation laid by Mahatma Gandhi was largely forgotten. Governance models began to be sought abroad, and innovation was looked for in foreign lands. This mentality, he stated, led to a societal tendency to consider imported ideas, goods, and services as superior.

Prime Minister remarked that when a nation fails to honour itself, it ends up rejecting its indigenous ecosystem, including the Made in India manufacturing framework. He cited tourism as an example, observing that in every country where tourism has flourished, the people take pride in their historical heritage. In contrast, he noted that post-Independence India witnessed efforts to disown its own legacy. Without pride in heritage, there is no motivation for its preservation, and without preservation, such heritage is reduced to mere ruins of brick and stone. He emphasized that pride in one’s heritage is a prerequisite for the growth of tourism.

Further addressing the issue of local languages, questioning which other country disrespects its own languages, the Prime Minister pointed out that nations like Japan, China, and South Korea adopted many Western practices but never compromised on their native languages. He stated that this is why the new National Education Policy places special emphasis on education in local languages. He clarified unequivocally that the government is not opposed to the English language, but firmly supports Indian languages.

Remarking that the crime committed by Macaulay against India’s cultural and educational foundations will complete 200 years in 2035, Shri Modi issued a national call to action, urging citizens to take a pledge over the next ten years to liberate themselves from the mindset of slavery that Macaulay instilled. He emphasized that the evils and societal afflictions introduced by Macaulay must be eradicated in the coming decade.

The Prime Minister noted that many important topics had been discussed and said he would not take more of the audience’s time. He acknowledged the Indian Express Group as a witness to every transformation and growth story of the nation. As India advances towards the goal of becoming a developed country, he recognized the Group’s continued participation in this journey. He congratulated the Indian Express team for their dedicated efforts in preserving the ideals of Shri Ramnath Goenka and concluded by extending his best wishes for the success of the event.

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 2.##PM’s speech delivered at the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture in New Delhi: 17 Nov, 2025Print News.//

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Video: PM Modi addresses the Ramnath Goenka Lecture

PM’s speech delivered at the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture in New Delhi

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Vivek Goenka ji, brother Anant, George Verghese ji, Rajkamal Jha, all other colleagues of the Indian Express Group, Excellencies, other dignitaries present here, ladies and gentlemen!

Today, we have all gathered here to honour a personality who gave a new height to the power of journalism, expression, and public movements in Indian democracy. As a visionary, as an institution builder, as a nationalist, and as a media leader, Ramnath ji established the Indian Express Group not just as a newspaper, but as a mission among the people of Bharat. Under his leadership, this group became the voice of Bharat’s democratic values and national interests. Therefore, when Bharat is moving forward with the resolve of becoming a developed nation in this era of the 21st century, Ramnath ji’s commitment, his efforts, and his vision are a great source of inspiration for us. I express my gratitude to the Indian Express Group for inviting me to this lecture, and I congratulate all of you.

Friends,

Ramnath ji drew great inspiration from a verse of the Gita: सुख दुःखे समे कृत्वा, लाभा-लाभौ जया-जयौ। ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व, नैवं पापं अवाप्स्यसि।। It means: viewing joy and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat as equal, one should perform duty and fight and by doing so, he will not incur sin. During the freedom movement, Ramnath ji supported the Congress, later supported the Janata Party, and even contested election on a Jana Sangh ticket. Regardless of ideology, he always placed national interest above everything else. Those who worked with Ramnath ji for years narrate many stories that he shared. How Ramnath ji helped Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel when the issue of Hyderabad and the atrocities of the Razakars (private Muslim militia) came up after independence. When the student movement in Bihar needed leadership in the 1970s, Ramnath ji, along with Nanaji Deshmukh, persuaded JP to lead the movement. During the Emergency, when a close minister of Indira Gandhi summoned and threatened Ramnath ji saying he would put him in jail, the reply Ramnath ji gave in return is now a hidden chapter of history. Some things became public, some remained unknown, but these stories tell us that Ramnath ji always stood by the truth, always placed duty above everything else, no matter how powerful the forces standing against him were.

Friends,

It was often said about Ramnath ji that he was very impatient. Impatience not in a negative sense, but in a positive one. A kind of impatience that pushes one to the limits of hard work for the sake of change; impatience that creates ripples even in stagnant waters. In the same way, today’s Bharat too is impatient. Bharat is impatient to become developed. Bharat is impatient to become self-reliant. We all have seen how quickly the first twenty-five years of the twenty-first century have passed. Unprecedented challenges came our way, one after another, yet they could not slow down Bharat’s momentum.

Friends,

You have seen how challenging the last four to five years have been for the entire world. In 2020, the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic struck, and the economies of the whole world were grappling with uncertainties. The global supply chain was severely impacted, and the entire world began moving toward despair. When the situation slowly started stabilizing after some time, upheavals began in our neighbouring countries. Amid all these crises, our economy achieved high growth rates. In 2022, global supply chains and energy markets were affected due to the European crisis. This had an impact on the whole world, yet even in 2022–23, the growth of our economy continued at a fast pace. In 2023, when the situation deteriorated in West Asia, even then our growth rate remained strong. And this year too, when the world is facing instability, our growth rate is still around seven percent.

Friends,

Today, when the world is afraid of disruption, Bharat is moving forward in the direction of a vibrant future. From this platform of the Indian Express, I can say that Bharat is not just an emerging market, Bharat is also an emerging model. Today, the world sees the Indian Growth Model as a Model of Hope.

Friends,

A strong democracy has many criteria, and one of the most important criteria is the participation of people in the democratic process. How confident people are about democracy and how optimistic they are can be seen most vividly during elections. You must remember the results that came on 14 November, and since Ramnath ji also had a connection with Bihar, mentioning it here is quite natural. Along with these historic results, there is another very important aspect. No one can ignore the increasing participation of people in democracy. This time, Bihar recorded the highest voter turnout in its history. Just think, women’s turnout was about 9 percent higher than men’s turnout. This too is a victory of democracy.

Friends,

The results of Bihar have once again shown how strong the aspirations of the people of Bharat are. The people of Bharat trust those political parties that sincerely work to fulfil those aspirations and give priority to development. And today, from the platform of the Indian Express, I would very humbly appeal to every state government in the country, be it left, right, center, and governments of all ideologies that the results of Bihar give us this lesson that the kind of government you run today will determine the future of your political party in the coming years. The people of Bihar gave the RJD government 15 years. Lalu Yadav ji could have done a lot for the development of Bihar if he wanted, but he chose the path of jungle raj. The people of Bihar can never forget this betrayal. Therefore, today, whether it is our government at the Centre or governments of different parties in the states, our highest priority should be just development, development, and only development. And that is why I say to every state government that compete to create a better investment environment in your state, compete to improve ease of doing business, compete to move ahead on development parameters and then see how the people place their trust in you.

Friends,

After winning the Bihar election, some people, including some Modi admirers in the media, have once again started saying that the BJP and Modi always remain in a 24×7 election mode. I believe that to win elections, being in election mode is not necessary; what is necessary is to remain in an emotional mode 24×7. When there is restlessness within the heart then not even a single minute should be wasted and one must keep working to reduce the hardships of the poor, to provide employment to the poor, to give healthcare to the poor, to fulfil the aspirations of the middle class. One should work tirelessly. When this emotion and this feeling drive the government continuously, then the results become visible on the day of the elections. We have just seen this happen in Bihar as well.

Friends,

Someone once mentioned another story connected to Ramnath ji. This was from the time when Ramnath ji got the Jana Sangh ticket from Vidisha. At that time, he and Nanaji Deshmukh were discussing whether the organization is more important or the face of the individual. Nanaji Deshmukh told Ramnath ji that he only needed to come for filing his nomination and then come back again to collect his victory certificate. Nanaji then fought the election on Ramnath ji’s behalf with the strength of party workers and ensured his victory. By mentioning this story, my intention is not to say that candidates should only show up for nomination. My purpose is to draw your attention to the dedication of the countless duty-bound workers of the BJP.

Friends,

Millions of BJP workers have nurtured the roots of the party with their sweat, and they continue to do so even today. And not just that, but hundreds of our workers in states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir have also watered the roots of the BJP with their blood. For a party that has such dedicated workers, winning elections is not the only goal. They work continuously with a spirit of service to win the hearts of the people.

Friends,

For the development of the country, it is very important that the benefits of development reach everyone. When government schemes reach Dalits, the oppressed, the exploited, and the deprived, social justice is ensured. But we have seen how some parties and some families used it only to serve their own interests in past decades and in the name of social justice.

Friends,

I am satisfied that today the country is witnessing social justice turning into reality. I want to tell you what true social justice really is. The campaign to build 12 crore toilets brought dignity into the lives of those poor people who were forced to defecate in the open. The 57 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts ensured financial inclusion for those whom previous governments never considered worthy of even having a bank account. The 4 crore pucca houses given to the poor have given them the courage to dream new dreams and increased their ability to take risks.

Friends,

The work done on social security in the past 11 years has been extraordinary. Today, nearly 94 crore people in Bharat have come under the social security net. And do you know what the situation was 10 years ago? Only 25 crore people were under social security coverage. Today the number is 94 crore people. That means earlier, only 25 crore people were getting the benefits of government social security schemes, and now that number has reached 94 crore people and this is what true social justice is. And we have not just expanded the social security net; we are continuously working on a mission of saturation, meaning, not a single eligible beneficiary should be left out. When a government works with this goal, when it wants to reach every beneficiary, the possibility of any kind of discrimination also ends. Because of these efforts, 25 crore people have overcome poverty in the last 11 years. And that is why the world today agrees that Democracy delivers.

Friends,

I will give you another example. Study our Aspirational Districts Programme. There were more than a hundred districts that previous governments had labelled as backward and then forgotten. It was believed that development in these regions would be very difficult and who would bother working hard in such districts? When an officer needed to be given a punishment posting, they were sent to these backward districts and told to stay there. Do you know how many people lived in these backward districts? More than 25 crore citizens of the country lived in these districts!

Friends,

If these backward districts had remained backward, Bharat would not be able to develop even in the next 100 years. Therefore, our government began working with a new strategy. We brought state governments on board, studied which district lagged behind on which development parameter, and prepared a separate strategy for each district. We deployed the best officers in the country, bright and innovative young minds, appointed them there, and considered these districts not backward, but aspirational. And today, you can see how these Aspirational Districts have started performing much better than other districts in their states on many development parameters. Take Bastar in Chhattisgarh, for example. It used to be a favourite subject for many of you journalists. At one time, when journalists had to visit there, they needed permits not just from the administration but from other organizations as well. But today, that same Bastar is progressing on the path of development. I don’t know how much coverage the Indian Express has given to the Bastar Olympics, but today Ramnath ji would have been very happy to see how the youth of Bastar are organizing events like the Bastar Olympics.

Friends,

Since Bastar has been mentioned, I will also discuss Naxalism, i.e., Maoist terrorism, from this platform. The scope of Naxalism and Maoist violence has been shrinking rapidly across the country, but it has been growing equally active within the Congress. You all know that for the past five decades, almost every major state in the country was affected by Maoist violence. But it was the misfortune of the country that the Congress nurtured and supported Maoist terrorism, which rejects the Indian Constitution. And not just in remote forest areas, the Congress also nourished the roots of Naxalism in the cities. The Congress established urban Naxal sympathizers in many big institutions.

Friends,

The urban Naxals and Maoist forces that infiltrated the Congress 10–15 years ago have now turned the Congress into the Muslim League–Maoist Congress (MMC). And today, I say this with full responsibility that this Muslim League–Maoist Congress has abandoned national interest for its own selfish motives. Today’s Muslim League–Maoist Congress is becoming a major threat to the unity of the country.

Friends,

Today, as Bharat embarks on a new journey to become a developed nation, the legacy of Ramnath Goenka ji becomes even more relevant. Ramnath ji took a firm stand against British tyranny. In one of his editorials, he wrote that he would prefer to shut down his newspaper rather than follow British orders. Similarly, when an attempt was made to enslave the country again in the form of the Emergency, Ramnath ji stood strong. And this year marks 50 years since the Emergency was imposed. Fifty years ago, the Indian Express showed that even blank editorials can challenge the mentality that seeks to enslave the people.

Friends,

Today, I will also speak in detail about the subject of freeing ourselves from the mindset of slavery from this esteemed platform. But for that, we will have to go back 190 years. Even before the First War of Independence of 1857. The year was 1835. In 1835, British parliamentarian Thomas Babington Macaulay launched a massive campaign to uproot Bharat from its own foundation. He declared that he would create such Indians who would be Indian in appearance but English in their minds. And to achieve this, Macaulay did not merely change the Indian education system, he destroyed it from the roots. Mahatma Gandhi himself had said that Bharat’s ancient education system was like a beautiful tree that was uprooted and destroyed.

Friends,

Our education system taught us to take pride in our culture. Bharat’s education system, along with studies, put equal emphasis on skills as well. That is why Macaulay decided to break the backbone of Bharat’s education system and he succeeded in his mission. Macaulay ensured that the British language and British thinking received greater recognition in that era and Bharat paid the price for this for centuries to come.

Friends,

Macaulay shattered our self-confidence. He infused a sense of inferiority within us. With one stroke, Macaulay threw thousands of years of our knowledge and science, our art and culture, and our entire way of life into the dustbin. It was at that moment that the seed was sown that if Indians wanted to progress, if they wanted to achieve something big, they would have to do so through foreign methods. And this feeling only grew stronger even after Independence. Our education, our economy, our social aspirations, everything became tied to foreign systems. The feeling of pride in what was ours gradually diminished. The Swadeshi (self-reliance) that Gandhiji considered the foundation of freedom was no longer valued. We began searching for governance models abroad. We started looking toward foreign countries for innovation. This mentality led to a trend in society where imported ideas, imported goods, and imported services were considered superior.

Friends,

When you do not respect your own country, you reject the indigenous ecosystem. You reject the Made in India manufacturing ecosystem. Let me give you another example of tourism. You will see that in every country where tourism has flourished, the people of that country take pride in their historical heritage. In our case, the opposite happened. After Independence, efforts were made to neglect our heritage. When there is no pride in one’s heritage, there is no effort to preserve it. When there is no preservation, we end up treating it like mere brick-and-stone ruins and that is exactly what happened. Being proud of one’s heritage is a necessary condition for the development of tourism.

Friends,

The same is true for local languages. In which country are local languages looked down upon? Countries like Japan, China, and Korea adopted many Western practices, but they kept their languages intact, they never compromised on their language. That is why, we have placed special emphasis on education in local languages in the new National Education Policy. And let me say this very clearly: we are not against the English language. We are in support of Indian languages.

Friends,

The crime was committed by Macaulay in 1835. And in 2035, after 10 years, it will be 200 years since this crime happened. And that is why, today, I want to make an appeal to the entire nation through you that we must take a pledge that we will free ourselves from Macaulay’s mentality of slavery in the next 10 years. These next 10 years are extremely important for us. I remember a small incident. A hospital for leprosy was being built in Gujarat. The people involved went to meet Mahatma Gandhi to invite him for the inauguration. Gandhi ji said that he was not in favour of inaugurating a hospital for leprosy; he said, “I will not come for the inauguration. But when the hospital has to be locked permanently, then call me, I will come to lock it.” That hospital was not locked during Gandhi ji’s lifetime. But when Gujarat became free from leprosy, I got the opportunity to lock that hospital when I became Chief Minister. Just as the journey that began in 1835 must come to an end by 2035, in the same way that Gandhi ji wished to lock the hospital, it is also my dream that we lock away this mindset forever.

Friends,

We have discussed many topics today. I do not want to take much more of your time now. The Indian Express Group has been a witness to every major transformation and every growth story of our nation. And today, as Bharat moves forward with the goal of becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India), it is once again a part of this journey. I congratulate you for your sincere efforts to preserve the thoughts and ideals of Ramnath ji with full dedication. Once again, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to all of you for this wonderful event. With respectful regards to Ramnath Goenka ji, I conclude my words.

Thank you very much!

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3.###PM shares glimpses from his speech delivered at the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture in New Delhi: 18 Nov, 2025Print News.///

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PM shares glimpses from his speech delivered at the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture in New Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared glimpses from his speech delivered at the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture in New Delhi.

In a separate posts, Shri Modi said;

“For Shri Ramnath Goenka Ji, it was always nation first. He stood with what was right and true. He also placed duty above everything else.”

“Democracy becomes stronger when more people participate. The recent Bihar election witnessed a record high turnout, made even more special by the high women turnout.”

“India’s growth model is seen as a model of hope for the world.”

“To win polls, one doesn’t have to be in 24/7 election mode. One has to be in ‘emotional mode’ and understand the needs of the people.”

“The influence of Maoism is shrinking. And, that is great for India’s development.”

“Come, let us collectively resolve to free ourselves from the colonial mindset that was nothing but a mindset of slavery.”

“अगले 10 साल में गुलामी की मानसिकता से पूरी मुक्ति के लिए देशवासियों से मेरा यह विशेष आह्वान…”

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JAI HIND 
JAI BHARATHAM
VANDE MADHARAM
BHARAT MATHA KI JAI.

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