The following piece has two parts, first part is PM’s speech on independence day with notes laden with key phrases he used, it was an excellent speech given the exclusive background he is raised with, indeed, he has come a long ways.
The 2nd part shows his lack of inclusivism in his speech – he was raised in an irresponsible exclusivist education system that does not promote cohesiveness. Modi and several Indians are a product of that system, Hindus and Muslims alike. We cannot blame them, but we have to work on changing the system, all of us are responsible. Like he said in his speech to ask ourselves, what am I doing to contribute towards the well being of India? Here is my contribution.
NARENDRA MODI SPEECH ON AUGUST 15
It was a good speech – a comprehensive speech covering most aspects of the nation building. It is good to hear good Hindi. The notes were made as I was listening, and this has become a habit of mine to make notes of key words and phrases. I have not done the grammar or spell check… oddly Modi caught himself with little grammar mistake around 24:15, nice touch, otherwise his language is perfect.
04:50 Mentions a variety of contributors by titles
17:11 mera kya, mujhe kya ( I have been writing about this mantra )
18:53 Gender equality – demanding accountability from boys
21:10 Ashoka’s switch from Yudh to Budh
22:29 Call for non-violence
23:22 Hum ne kya paya -10 years moratorium on communal riots
24:15 Female Infanticide – beton ki aas may betiyon ko bali mat chadayein
Grammar mistake – budha maa baap, but corrects himself to budhay maa baap
27:12 sports medals – 29 girls brought medals out of 36
28:00 vikas ka ek hi raasta – good governance and development
32:00 Youth employment and steel manufacturing
34:00 Global thinking
35:00 Emphasized on made in India
37:35 Bhagat Singh hi ki seva nahin hai ( I have redefined Patriotism and like this)
37:45 Jain Jawan Jai Kisan – seva anna ke bhandar bharna
38:43 call on Innovation, make it here instead of importing ( need infrastructure)
39:24 zero defect zero effect – no compromise no returns and no side effects.
40:36 Change image from saparay to IT professional – sapna hai – digital India
42:04 Conduct business on mobil phone – digital India ka sapna –
e-governance, effective governance, IT logon ko jodti hai – digital India
44:06 Tourism – and its multiplier effect.
44:48 Gandagi rukwat hai…. safai ka kaam shuru hoga – commitment is good
45:45 Gandhi – 2019 Jayanti – gandagi to be gone – happens with janbhagiyadari
46:47 Dignity of women – lavatory – toilet
48:10 My nay gharibi dekhi hai
38:43 Toilet in all schools separate from girls –
38: 48 spend your money in building toilet in schools By August 15, 2015
50:00 Opportunities – naya vichar – kai yojnayein –
Development by area – desh banana hai to gaon say shuru karo 2016
Adapt one town in each district – to make it exemplary
53:19 Create a model town – blue print will roll out on October 16 – JP Narayan’s b/d
55:39 Center and states to make a team
56:20 Puranay ghar ki repairi ke bajaye ek naya ghar banayien
56:50 Nai, nai, nai… new institute ki disha may aagay badhien
58:25 Vivekananda meri bharat mata jaag uthi hai, my meri aankhon say dekh raha hoon
00:00 Ajadi ki jaisi ladai laday mil jul ke laday, tab to hum alag nahin thay…
gandhi thay sardar thay… ignored Kalam Azad ( he is poor in history)
Gharibi ko door karien
02:30 Pados ke deshon say mil kar gharibi ko ladien
03:35 challenged to work – pradhan sevak
05:22 Jai Hind
Modi could have done much better. May be it is in not his blood to be inclusive in his language. At the very beginning, when he recited the contributions of a variety of things to the nation, he could have included Sufis contribution along with rishis and munis. Then around 60th Minute he recites Gandhi and Sardar, but does not mention Nehru, because of whom we have a firm and solid democracy, and he does not mention Maualana Azad who lay the foundation for IIT’s that shines India. He does mention Shastri and JP, but fails to mention the space program particularly during digitizing India talk, and he forgets Vinoba Bhave’s bhoodan movement during the Kisan segment.
I hope he gets a better speech writer next time, who can paint a fuller image of India and not an adhoori tasveer.
Towards the end when he was saying our nation is the nation of youth, the following song was on my mind… and had to listen to it before I go to sleep at about 2:45 AM
A desh hai veer jawanon ka
ADDED
Kailas,
Good to hear your wise words, indeed, it was a good speech. Yes, the overall speech was inspiring and uplifting, its more like the state of the union speech. I have a greater interest in India than most Indians living outside India.
What do I want? Nothing but goodness for my country. I may be out of India, but as the saying goes, India will never go out of me. Whatever I write, speak, think or do, it is with the idea that every Indian should enjoy his freedom to eat, drink, wear and believe whatever the hell he or she wants to. I spend an inordinate amount of time on India – this forum Dallas Indians is around for 11 years now, it takes time to keep it, my website http://mikeghouseforIndia.blogspot.com has a lot of information about India… prior to that you know the work I have done. Remember this is all voluntary work and I have nothing to gain but hear rude comments now and then, and positive comments like yours, thank you. I take them all as my Bachcahy and do not hold any grudge against any one.
Almost every other thing I write always highlights the pluralistic ethos of India in all my work be it Huffington post, Dallas Morning News, radio, tv or my speeches or wherever..
WHY?
My interest is our social fabric vis-a-vis pluralism – learning to respect the otherness of others. Shame on us, the generations after independence don’t know much about each other – whether you are a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian or the other, you know almost nothing about the other, and whatever you know is bad things. There is a flaw in our education system. My Middle school social studies Urdu book had two pages on every religion, I wish it comes back and our future generations are taught to learn about the beauty of every faith.
To understand Modi’s deficiency in inclusive language, you will understand it better in one of the most read articles on my blog – Can a Muslim Indian become Prime Minister of India?http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2012/05/can-muslim-indian-become-prime-minister.html
Many, but not all Muslims are consumed with their self-interest and focus on their dire needs, it will be a long time before a Muslim could become Prime Minister of India. There are millions of Muslims like me, to whom, India’s interests are prime, but not enough of us at this time to make the change.
Modi’s un-inclusive language is not his fault, he was raised that way. He got many historical facts wrong during his campaign, and he was taught limited version of Hinduism, and not the universal aspect of it, being a Vivekananda fan myself, I am amazed at Swamiji for not expounding on the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum fully, may be he did not feel the need for it at that time. Had he done that, it would have become a template for RSS, without it, Modi’s India’s history does not include any Muslim, Sikh or Christian contributions towards its richness, and as such it does not come in his language. I don’t blame him for that, but being the Prime Minister of entire nation, I expect him not only to say, ” I am prime Minister of every Indian” but include that in his language, he sets the tone. Our generation was molded by Jawahar Lal Nehru, thanks to him for giving the values of secularism and giving us a stable democracy. Now Modi can put a stamp of Inclusivism and Pluralism on the next generation, he lacks the foundation and some day, I will do my work.
Take a look at our own behavior – If the President issues Diwali Greetings or mentions about India or Hinduism in his speech, we gloat and praise him for his inclusiveness. Don’t you think the Adivasis to Zoroastrians and everyone in between will feel buyoed by the recognition?
We have a responsibility to be inclusive, teach inclusiveness, and at the end, each one of us would live a better life and our India wins. Yes, I will continue to monitor Pope Francis, Narendra Modi and Barack Obama, three individuals who can bring a positive change to their respective populations. If we don’t speak it, no one will get it.
You might cherish one of my vision of India at: http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2014/08/happy-independence-day-india.html
Mike Ghouse committed to building cohesive inclusive societies, where everyone feels a part of the nation building and not excluded. More about him at www.MikeGhouse.net