From ‘mere pyare deshwasiyon’ to 50+ references to youth: How PM Modi addressed nation in Independence Day speech

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his 13th Independence Day address from the historic Red Fort in Delhi. Throughout his 75-minute speech, the Prime Minister referred to the youth of the country approximately 50 times. One of the terms he frequently used was "deshwasiyon," which he mentioned nearly 40 times in his speech, according to news agency PTI.

Other terms used by PM Modi to address the youth included "sathiyon" or friends, which appeared 10 times this year and nearly 30 in previous years. He also used the term "parivaarjan," meaning family members, mentioning it about 50 times in 2023. Additionally, Modi referred to "desh sevak" or those who serve the nation and "bhai beheno," meaning brothers and sisters.

In his address, Modi announced several initiatives aimed at supporting the country's youth. These included free online coaching for competitive exams to ease financial burdens on the poor and middle class. The government committed to providing free online coaching for various exams, stating that coaching classes often strain the resources of financially disadvantaged families.

Moreover, the Prime Minister unveiled an AI skilling program, pledging to train one crore youth in AI skills within the next year. Recognizing the importance of sports, Modi introduced a nationwide talent hunt for children aged 5 to 15 to identify promising athletes. These young talents will receive special training to become world-class athletes, with the aim of having at least three-fourths of events in 2036 participate in the sports sector.

To tackle the growing issue of drug addiction among the youth, Modi called for a collective effort to create a drug-free India. He urged families to participate in the 100-day Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan, or Drug-Free Youth Campaign, emphasizing that addressing this challenge should be a shared responsibility. Similarly, the PM announced the development of a comprehensive civil defence program capable of addressing modern challenges.

The government has already initiated this program, and further advancements will be made in the coming days, he stated. Finally, Modi highlighted India's progress towards becoming self-reliant in the nuclear power sector, emphasizing energy security as a pressing need.