It came close to Jawaharlal Nehru's tryst with destiny speech way back in August 1947, on the eve of Independence. And even though Narendra Modi, in his characteristic style, made no reference to India's first prime minister despite harping on democracy and secularism, what he said in Capitol Hill before a jampacked US Congress, was in fact Nehruvian in its scale and ambition.
From Mahatma Gandhi to Martin Luther King, to broaching the idea of "delegitimising terror", to claiming no intellectual property rights on Yoga, Narendra Modi's speech was just just historic, it in fact, in his own words, overcame the "hesitations of history". That's a phrase that will go down in history in golden letters.
PM Modi's speech in Capitol Hill has floored critics and broken the internet. |
From emphasising on cooperation and strategic alliance that the India-US ties are all about at present, sharing common challenges and scopes, Modi "covered all the bases", and the Congress reciprocated with a string of standing ovations, not just for his candour and humour, but for the sheer weight and grand scale of a vision put forth thus.
Calling it the "defining partnership of 21st century", Modi sold India as a "natural ally" of the US, clearly taking no unsubtle digs at Pakistan, and perhaps even China, as he claimed a stake in the Pacific pie. This, a day after US president Barack Obama securing the American backing for India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, is surely a political assertion almost unmatched in the choppy waters of foreign policy.
A nod for the diaspora, a big shout out to climate cooperation and an emphasis on renewable energy turned out to be the icing on the well-baked cake of superlative speechmaking.
Washington DC: PM Modi meets US Congress members at US Capitol #ModiInUSA pic.twitter.com/8rSgO7m9h2
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
This temple of democracy has empowered and encouraged other democracies of the world: PM Modi at US Congress pic.twitter.com/TiSgxQrIp6
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
India applauds great sacrifices of men & women from 'The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave' in service of mankind: PM #ModiInUSA
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
Today, India lives as one,India grows as one and India celebrates as one: PM Modi at US Congress #ModiInUSA pic.twitter.com/VNWggteg2J
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee called India and the US, 'natural allies': PM Modi at US Congress #ModiInUSA pic.twitter.com/WlIbMOT4ZV
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
The genius of Baba Saheb Ambedkar was nurtured in the years he spent at the Columbia University a century ago: PM #ModiInUSA
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
No wonder then, that President Obama has called our ties the defining partnership of the 21st century: PM Modi at US Congress #ModiinUSA
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
No wonder then, that President Obama has called our ties the defining partnership of the 21st century: PM Modi at US Congress #ModiinUSA
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
We trade more with the US than with any other nation: PM Modi at US Congress pic.twitter.com/WLLJW0NPCl
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
You are well-known for your bipartisanship.I also witnessed similar spirit in Indian Parliament, especially in Upper House: PM #ModiinUSA
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
SIRI tells us that India's ancient heritage of Yoga has over 30 million practitioners in the USA : PM Modi
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
Connecting our two nations is also a unique and dynamic bridge of three million Indian Americans: PM Modi
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
My dream is to economically empower our billion citizens through many social and economic transformations: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/DHzXjo555Z
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
I see US as an indispensible partner. Many of you believe that a stronger & prosperous India is in America's strategic interest: PM Modi
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
Terrorism remains the biggest threat. From West of India's border to Africa, it may go by different names,LeT,Taliban or ISIS: PM Modi
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
Those who believe in humanity must come together as one & speak against this menace in one voice. Terrorism must be delegitimized: PM Modi
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
Terrorism incubated in India's neighbourhood,commend US Cong for sending clear message to those who preach terror for political gains:PM
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2016
Back home, even the staunchest of Modi-baiters were impressed. Even though many of them lamented the complete omission of the Nehruvian legacy in enshrining democracy, most were compelled to acknowledge just how Nehruvian in tone and tenor the speech was.
However, many bemoaned how Modi's bombastic rhetoric fell so unduly short of the reality back home. Exactly as the prime minister was singing paeans to freedom and liberty on the US soil, over here a reign of terror and cultural censorship has marred artistic and political expressions.
Paul Ryan and Joe Biden look on as Narendra Modi delivers a power-packed speech in Capitol Hill. |
Brilliantly spoken line in @narendramodi speech #USCongress : "Today, we (India and U.S) have conquered hesitations of history." Will endure
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) June 8, 2016
I think that was a very good speech from the PM - excellently written, well delivered.
— Mihir Sharma (@mihirssharma) June 8, 2016
Modi Wave. pic.twitter.com/sLpxl89qkk
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) June 8, 2016
Super speech by PM @narendramodi ji so far. Captures the mood at Capitol Hill and Indo-US ties perfectly.. #ModiInUSA
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) June 8, 2016
Now thats a good one! India not claimed IPR on yoga! #USCongress
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) June 8, 2016
Journey of Modi, from not getting a US Visa to getting 9 standing ovations in the US Congress. #ModiInUS
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) June 8, 2016
Many took to Twitter to express precisely this contradiction. Does Prime Minister Narendra Modi actually believe in his own speech? Is he hardselling the future over the carcass of a rotting present?