With nearly 40 mentions, ‘Mere pyare deshwasiyon’ dominates PM Modi’s speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a 75-minute address from the iconic Red Fort in Delhi on Saturday, marking the 80th Independence Day of India. Throughout his speech, the phrase "Mere pyare deshwasiyon" (my beloved fellow citizens) appeared nearly 40 times, making it the most frequently used phrase. This was closely followed by "saathiyon" (friends), which was used 10 times in the speech.

The prime minister also employed "mere pyare yuva" (my beloved youth) once, urging young people to combat drug and addiction issues. Other phrases used include "desh sevak" (those who serve the nation) and "bhai beheno" (brothers and sisters), each mentioned once. "Deshwasiyon" (fellow citizens) has been a consistent term for Modi's Independence Day speeches, appearing 50 times in 2022, around 30 times in 2024 and 2023, and more than 40 times in 2022.

In 2023, Modi shifted to using "parivaarjan" (family member) more frequently, employing it around 50 times. The 2026 Independence Day speech was the shortest among his 13 consecutive addresses to the nation since 2014, while his 2025 speech was the longest at 103 minutes, surpassing his previous record of 98 minutes set in 2024.