PM Modi’s Independence Day address: From ‘Bharat Jodo’ to ‘panch pran’, a look at his previous speeches

Modi presented himself as an “outsider” to the Lutyens’ Delhi, spoke of taking everyone along, and acknowledged the contribution of the Opposition.

“I am an outsider to Delhi… I have been quite isolated from the elite class of this place, but during the last two months…I had an insider view, and I was astonished. It is not a political platform, rather it is a platform of a national policy and, therefore, my views should not be evaluated from a political perspective,” the PM said.

He invoked Sanskrit expression Sangachhadhwam: “We walk together, we move together, we think together, we resolve together and together we take this country forward,” he said. “Yesterday, the first parliamentary session of the new government concluded. Today, I can proudly say that the session of Parliament reflects our thinking and it is a reflection of our intentions. We are not for moving forward on the basis of majority,…we want to move ahead on the basis of strong consensus.

“…Having taken all the parties and Opposition along while working shoulder to shoulder, we achieved unprecedented success and the credit for this does not go to the Prime Minister alone, the credit does not go to the people sitting in the government, the credit for this goes to the Opposition also, the credit goes to all the leaders of Opposition…and also all the members from the Opposition. From the ramparts of Red Fort, quite proudly I salute all the Members of Parliament, I also salute all the political parties and by virtue of their strong support, we could take some important decisions…

“I have formed the government not as a ruler, but as a servant,” he said.

2015: Corruption focus

“I want to tell the Team India comprising 1.25 billion people, that this country can become corruption-free,” the PM said in his address of 2015.

“CBI had registered only 800 cases in the entire one year before the formation of our government. We are still new in power but we have already registered 1,800 cases…; we have taken action against government employees. You can easily imagine and compare the figures…It shows our ability to fight corruption,” he said.

2016: Terrorism, welfare

The PM spoke about terrorism and Maoism, and announced a new healthcare scheme under which BPL families would be entitled to avail treatment up Rs 1 lakh per year. Issues related to foreign policy, and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir also figured in his speech.

“For the past few days the people of Balochistan, the people of Gilgit, the people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, the way their citizens have heartily thanked me, the way they have acknowledged me, the goodwill they have shown towards me… [They] acknowledge the Prime Minister of India, they honour him, so it is an honour of my 125 crore countrymen, it is respect of my 125 crore countrymen… I want to heartily thank the people of Balochistan, the people of Gilgit, the people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir…,” he said.

2017: “Bharat Jodo”

The PM spoke about building a “Divya” and “Bhavya Bharat”, and denounced violence in the name of “aastha” (faith). “Violence in the name of aastha is not something to be happy about, it will not be accepted in India,” he said.

Observing that 2017 was the 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement, Modi said that while Quit India was about “Bharat Chhodo”, the call of today is “Bharat Jodo”.

2018: Report card

In the last Independence Day address of his first term (2014-19), the PM presented a report card of his government’s key achievements, including making India 100% open defecation free, electrification, providing LPG gas connection to every woman in rural and urban areas, and the implementation of GST. He also spoke about the constitutional status given to the OBC Commission.

2019: Ideological push

After returning with a thumping majority, the PM used his 2019 Independence Day speech to articulate his government’s ideological agenda — Article 370 and Triple Talaq — and spoke of new initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission.

“What was the reason behind revocation of Article 370 and 35A? This is the hallmark of this government. We do not avoid problems, nor do we let them fester… The work that was not done in the last 70 years has been accomplished within 70 days after this new government came to power. The abrogation of Article 370 and 35A has been carried out in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha by two-thirds majority. This means that everyone wanted this decision, but perhaps they were waiting for somebody to initiate the same and carry it forward. I have come to accomplish the task assigned to me by my countrymen. I work selflessly,” the PM said.

He also discussed the Jal Jeevan Mission in detail, which is aimed at providing tap water to all rural households by 2024.

2020: Covid, self-reliance

In the year of Covid-19, the PM spoke about the pandemic and the need to be “aatmanirbhar”.

“In the midst of the Corona pandemic, 130 crore Indians pledged themselves to become self-reliant. Today self-reliance is etched in the mind of every Indian. We are also witnessing the realisation of that dream of Self-Reliant India (Aatmanirbhar Bharat). Self-reliant India is not just an expression, it has become the mantra for 130 crore countrymen,” Modi said.

2021: Vision for 2047

In 2021, the PM urged all Indians to make efforts to build a new India by 2047.

“Today, I am requesting…that Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and now Sabka Prayas are very important for the achievement of our goals,” he said. He also set a target of saturation of welfare schemes.

“100% villages should have roads, 100% households should have a bank account, 100% beneficiaries should have Ayushman Bharat card, 100% eligible persons should have gas connections under Ujjwala scheme, and 100% beneficiaries should have aawaas,” Modi said.

2022: “Panch Pran”

In his ninth Independence Day speech last year, Modi had urged the people of the country to focus on the “Panch Pran” (Five Resolutions) for the coming 25 years.

The first Pran, Modi said, is for the country to move ahead with the major resolve of a developed India.

The second Pran, he said, was to liberate ourselves from the mindset of slavery, which he said was visible in innumerable things within and around us.

The third Pran was about feeling proud of the country’s heritage and legacy.

The fourth Pran was “unity and solidarity”.

The fifth Pran was the duty of citizens.

In fact, the central theme of this address was to get rid of the mentality of servitude. “Ghulami ki manasikta, hamein use tilaanjali deni padegi. (We will have to get rid of the mentality of servitude).”