New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked this Independence Day with a historic milestone, delivering his longest-ever address from the ramparts of
Delhi’s Red Fort, clocking in at 103 minutes. The speech, which touched on the nation’s achievements, pressing challenges, and his vision for the future, also saw Modi cement his place in history as the second prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to have given such a long consecutive run of Independence Day speeches. This year’s address was Modi’s 12th in a row since first taking office in 2014, breaking the record previously held by Indira Gandhi, who delivered 11 consecutive speeches. The only leader ahead of him now is India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who addressed the nation 17 times in a row between 1947 and 1963. Also Read: How Many Times Has PM Modi Addressed Nation from the Red Fort?
Longest I-Day Speech Given By a PM Till Date
Last year, Modi had already set a benchmark by speaking for 98 minutes, the longest Independence Day address by any prime minister until now. With this year’s 103-minute speech, he has surpassed his own record.Over the decades, each prime minister has left a distinct mark with their Independence Day speeches. Nehru remains at the top with 17 consecutive addresses, followed by Indira Gandhi, who delivered 16 in total, 11 of them back-to-back during her two terms from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.
Lal Bahadur Shastri gave two speeches in 1964 and 1965, while Morarji Desai also addressed the nation twice post-Emergency. Chaudhary Charan Singh spoke once in 1979, and Rajiv Gandhi delivered the address five times during his tenure. VP Singh, HD Deve Gowda, and Inder Kumar Gujral each had only one opportunity to speak on the occasion. PV Narasimha Rao spoke for four consecutive years, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee delivered six addresses between 1998 and 2004.
Manmohan Singh held the record for the most consecutive speeches in recent history with 10 from 2004 to 2014, a record Modi surpassed last year.
Also Read: What PM Modi Meant by His 'Daam Kam, Dum Zyada' Pitch - 'Success Mantra' Explained
Independence Day: Modi’s Style and 2024 Highlights
Known for weaving the country’s progress, challenges, and policy announcements into his August 15 speeches, Modi’s addresses often blend political vision with personal appeals. Last year, he used the occasion to make a clear and direct pitch for a Uniform Civil Code, stating that the current framework was “communal” and encouraged “discrimination”.In 2024, he reiterated his belief in reforms and called for simultaneous elections, describing them as essential for efficiency and unity in governance. His speeches, punctuated with emotive language and a confident delivery, continue to draw both praise and scrutiny, a reflection of his prominent role in shaping the country’s political narrative.
With his latest record-breaking 103-minute address, Modi has not only surpassed his own speaking record but also inched closer to Nehru’s unmatched run of consecutive speeches.
(with inputs from PTI)
