PM links young to Viksit Bharat — in that Bharat, celebrate the ‘dimag’

In his 80th Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revisited his previous themes, linking them to a new concept: "Viksit Bharat" or a developed India. He divided India's journey into two phases, highlighting the progress made since 2014. Modi highlighted the rapid pace and scale of development, noting that it was the first time since Independence that this speed and scale had been witnessed.

Embedded in Modi's vision were familiar keywords such as "atmanirbharta" (self-reliance), "innovation hub", "vocal for local", "start-up India", and "reform express". The nation's trajectory was framed against the backdrop of global crises, including the pandemic and the weaponization of resources in conflicts like Ukraine and the Middle East.

However, this speech marked the first time Modi had invoked "yuva shakti" or youth power, and connected it to the goal of Viksit Bharat. This was a significant shift, as he sought to reclaim the image of youth as protesters and instead position them as the driving force and beneficiaries of India's reform story.

The PM announced several initiatives aimed at supporting youth, including training in artificial intelligence, free online coaching for competitive exams, and the Innovation Fund. He also promised to connect young people's aspirations with the nation's resources, aiming to involve them in the ongoing Census exercise. These mentions of youth were strategic, as the echoes of previous upsurges at Jantar Mantar had yet to fade.

However, the speech had a more ominous tone. Modi discussed his government's success in combating Naxal violence, but warned of the danger posed by "dimagi Naxals" or those with Maoist thinking. He urged the identification and isolation of these individuals to prevent the youth from being drawn into dissent or ideology. This equation of armed insurgency with ideas and dissent, and linking both to the youth, is troubling.

There is no equivalence between armed violence and ideas, and the threat of an enemy within conflicts with the vision of a developed India presented in the rest of the speech. The PM is right in asserting that "yuva shakti" will fuel the journey to Viksit Bharat, but this requires celebrating the power of thought and freedom from fear, ensuring an unafraid search for answers. Only then can the true meaning of "viksit" be realized.