Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to deliver his eleventh consecutive Independence Day address this Thursday, marking a significant milestone in his political career. This will be his first Independence Day speech since securing a record-equaling third consecutive term as Prime Minister, an achievement that places him alongside India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who also served three terms.
On June 9, when PM Modi took the oath of office, he equaled Nehru’s record, joining a select group of Indian leaders who have held the Prime Ministerial position for three terms. Now, as he prepares to address the nation from the historic Red Fort, PM Modi is poised to join Nehru and his daughter, Indira Gandhi, as one of the few leaders to have delivered eleven consecutive Independence Day speeches.
Jawaharlal Nehru, a towering figure in Indian politics and a stalwart of the Congress party, delivered 17 consecutive Independence Day addresses during his tenure as Prime Minister. Indira Gandhi, who served as Prime Minister from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 until her assassination in October 1984, delivered 16 speeches in total, with 11 of them being consecutive.
Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming speech will also see him surpass former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who delivered ten Independence Day speeches during his tenure. This achievement underscores Modi’s enduring political influence and his ability to connect with the Indian public through his addresses from the Red Fort.
PM Modi first took to the podium on August 15, 2014, following his landslide victory in the general elections earlier that year. In that inaugural speech, he announced several key initiatives, including the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, aimed at financial inclusion for all. Over the years, his Independence Day speeches have become a platform for significant policy announcements and reflections on his government’s achievements.
One notable aspect of Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Day speeches is their length. On average, his speeches last 82 minutes, making them the longest among all Indian Prime Ministers. This is in stark contrast to the early years of independent India, where speeches were significantly shorter. For instance, Nehru’s first speech in 1947 lasted just 24 minutes.
The only Prime Minister whose Independence Day address comes close to PM Modi’s in terms of length is IK Gujral, whose lone speech in 1997 lasted 71 minutes. Modi’s speeches have ranged from 55 minutes, which was his shortest in 2017, to a record 94 minutes in 2016, reflecting his penchant for detailed and expansive communication with the nation.
Government archives reveal that the duration of Independence Day speeches has gradually increased over time, with Prime Minister Modi setting new benchmarks in both content and delivery. Before Modi’s tenure, the longest Independence Day speech was delivered by Indira Gandhi in 1972, which lasted for 54 minutes. Modi has consistently exceeded this duration, using the opportunity to outline his vision for the nation and highlight his administration’s accomplishments.
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