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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the centenary celebrations of Delhi University’s prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Saturday evening. Taking the Delhi Metro to reach the campus on National Teachers’ Day, the event marked 100 years of the institution founded in 1926 by philanthropist Sir Shri Ram.
Returning to the campus where he delivered a landmark address in 2013 as Chief Minister of Gujarat, PM Modi contrasted the economic condition of the past decade with India’s current trajectory, while blending sharp political commentary with youth-focused pop-culture references.
‘OG’ Alumni, ‘Dhurandhar’ Pop-Culture Reference, and Metro Journey
Connecting directly with the young audience, PM Modi adopted Gen Z vernacular to praise generations of SRCC graduates, calling the institution’s alumni the true
“OGs” who have made global contributions across public life, law, and economics.
- The ‘Dhurandhar’ Buzz: Referencing modern pop culture and popular internet language, PM Modi brought down the house with his punchy remark: “Dhurandhar na ho, lekin dhoom toh machayi hai” (You may not all be stalwarts, but you have certainly created a massive splash).
- Remembering Jaitley & Sanyal: He affectionately recalled former Union Minister Arun Jaitley’s endless anecdotes about his SRCC student days, alongside acknowledging current team member Sanjeev Sanyal as part of the college’s distinguished legacy. He also released a commemorative Rs 100 coin to mark the centenary.
The ‘Glass Half Full’ Metaphor and Economic Contrast
Revisiting his iconic 2013 address, PM Modi recalled his original perspective on optimism and pessimism. He noted that while pessimists see a glass as half empty and optimists see it as half full, his perspective remains that the Glass Half Full is always entirely full—half with water and half with air.
- 2013 vs 2026 Reality: The Prime Minister highlighted the dark economic climate of 2013, citing double-digit inflation, a spiralling current account deficit, policy paralysis, and inclusion in the “Fragile Five” economies.
- A Turnaround Story: He contrasted those years of despair with India’s current standing as one of the fastest-growing major global economies, driven by the Make in India initiative, digital public infrastructure like UPI, and unprecedented infrastructure expansion.
Targeting ‘Dimagi Naxal’, ‘Jhooth Ki Goonj’, and ‘Naraz Fufa’
In a direct political salvo, Prime Minister Modi took aim at political critics and the ideological ecosystem opposing his administration’s development push.
- The Homeopathic Pill: Elaborating on his Red Fort Independence Day remarks, PM Modi asserted that his reference to a Dimagi Naxal acted like a “homeopathic pill”. He noted that just as homeopathic treatment initially brings an underlying ailment to the surface, his phrase caused ideological opponents promoting anti-development narratives to reveal themselves one after another.
- Roar of Truth: Swiping at opposition narratives and “mai-baap” political culture, the Prime Minister declared that no matter how loud the Jhooth Ki Goonj (echo of lies) becomes, it will inevitably fade when confronted by the roar of truth and tangible progress. The statement is being seen as a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Chhatron Ki Goonj youth-connect exercise.
- The ‘Naraz Fufa’ Syndrome: Adding a touch of satire, he described critics who oppose every national project—from the Statue of Unity and Vande Bharat trains to the new Parliament building—as behaving like a perpetually dissatisfied family elder or Naraz Fufa.
Vision for Gen Z and Nation-Building
Addressing a hall filled with students, faculty, and distinguished alumni, PM Modi stressed that India’s youth hold the key to transforming societal strength into national progress. He urged students stepping out into the professional world to reject cynicism, embrace innovation, and contribute actively to the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.
