Independence Day 2023: PM Modi Commends India as Vishwamitra, the Global Friend

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech on August 15, celebrated India's commitment to the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the global family) and its emergence as a friend of the world, similar to the figure of Vishwamitra. He highlighted India's progress towards global welfare, which he referred to as Vishwamangal.

The Prime Minister emphasized India's achievements across various sectors, such as space exploration, deep-sea missions, Vande Bharat trains, electric buses, metro systems, internet connectivity in villages, semiconductor manufacturing, and innovations like nano urea. He stressed that India is not only dreaming big but also actively working to turn those dreams into reality.

Prime Minister Modi assured the nation that India is on a path to becoming one of the top three economies globally within the next five years. He reminded the audience that when his government took office in 2014, India was ranked tenth in the world's economies, and it has since climbed to the fifth position. He attributed this progress to the government's efforts in combating corruption, leading to economic prosperity for all citizens.

He called upon all Indians to collectively work hard during this transformative period ("Amrit Kaal") to ensure that the aspirations of India's 1.4 billion people come true. He envisioned a developed India that garners praise from around the world when the Tricolour is raised on its 100th Independence Day in 2047.

The Independence Day celebration was attended by 1,800 individuals from diverse backgrounds. As a symbolic gesture, 75 couples dressed in traditional attire from each state and Union Territory were invited to witness the Prime Minister's address at the Red Fort. His arrival was greeted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhat, and Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane.

To ensure security, approximately 1,000 cameras equipped with facial recognition and video analytics were strategically placed in and around the Red Fort and other key locations.