Independence Day 2024: PM Modi Breaks Records With 11th Consecutive Speech, Joining Nehru And Indira Gandhi!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has joined an elite group of Indian leaders by delivering his 11th consecutive Independence Day speech, following in the footsteps of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, holds the record with 17 consecutive speeches, while Indira Gandhi addressed the nation 16 times during her tenure from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1984.

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PM Modi Breaks Records With 11th Consecutive Speech

Modi has also surpassed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who hoisted the Tricolour and addressed the nation 10 times between 2004 and 2014, as reported by Hindustan Times. Modi's first Independence Day speech was in 2014, where he announced significant initiatives such as 'Swachh Bharat' and the 'Jan Dhan' accounts, marking the beginning of his long streak.

In addition to this milestone, Modi is known for delivering the longest Independence Day speeches in Indian history. His shortest address was 55 minutes long in 2017, while his longest, in 2016, stretched to 94 minutes. The previous record for the longest speech was held by former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, who spoke for 71 minutes in 1997.

By comparison, Nehru's longest speech in 1947 lasted 24 minutes, and Indira Gandhi's longest was 54 minutes in 1972, as reported by Hindustan Times. This year, the 78th Independence Day celebrations began with Prime Minister Modi being received by senior government and military officials, followed by his inspection of the Guard of Honour, coordinated by the Indian Navy.

A symbolic moment occurred when the Prime Minister unfurled the national flag, accompanied by a 21-gun salute from the 1721 Field Battery, using indigenous 105mm Light Field Guns. After the flag hoisting, Modi delivered his speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort at 7:30 am, as reported.

The theme for this year's Independence Day is 'Viksit Bharat' or 'Developed India,' reflecting the government's vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. As part of the celebrations, 161 field functionaries from across the country, who are involved in implementing various schemes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, were invited as special guests, along with their spouses and companions, as per media reports.

Among the invitees were women workers from Anganwadis, Sakhi One-Stop Centres, Sankalp: Hubs for Empowerment of Women, Child Welfare Committees, and District Child Protection Units, who were honoured for their contributions.