In a notable display of cross-party appreciation, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor publicly commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture, describing it as a significant national discourse. The event, held on Monday, November 18, 2025, saw the Prime Minister speak on a range of topics from reversing a colonial-era mindset to the political landscape of Bihar.
Tharoor's Public Acclaim on Social Media
Taking to the social media platform X on Tuesday, Shashi Tharoor shared his detailed reflections on the lecture he attended at the invitation of The Indian Express. Despite battling a severe cold and cough, the Congress MP expressed his gladness at being part of the audience. In his post, he characterized the Prime Minister's speech as serving a dual purpose: "both an economic outlook and a cultural call to action."
Tharoor highlighted that PM Modi spoke of India's "constructive impatience" for development and made a strong case for the nation to adopt a post-colonial mindset. He also noted the Prime Minister's assertion that India has transcended its label as merely an 'emerging market' and is now being viewed by the world as an 'emerging model', a testament to its economic resilience.
Key Themes from PM Modi's Landmark Address
During his lecture, Prime Minister Modi delivered a powerful critique of the legacy of Thomas Babington Macaulay, the British colonial officer who shaped the Indian education system. Modi asserted that Macaulay's intent was to create a class of Indians who were "Indian by appearance but British at heart," a move that inflicted profound damage on the nation's self-confidence.
The Prime Minister declared a 10-year national mission, leading up to the 200th anniversary of Macaulay's campaign, to overturn this deeply ingrained "slave mentality." This mission aims to restore pride in India's native heritage, languages, and traditional knowledge systems.
Addressing a common criticism against his government, Modi refuted the notion that he is perpetually in "election mode." Instead, he stated that his driving force is being in "emotional mode" 24/7, focused on addressing the problems faced by the citizens of India.
A Tribute to Ramnath Goenka's Legacy
Prime Minister Modi also paid rich tribute to Express Group founder Ramnath Goenka, recalling his formidable role in India's freedom struggle and beyond. He noted that Goenka supported the Congress during the independence movement and even suspended publication of his newspaper during the Quit India Movement as an act of defiance against British rule.
Later, Goenka backed the JP movement and the Janata Party during the Emergency, establishing The Indian Express not just as a newspaper, but as a mission for democracy. Modi specifically mentioned the iconic blank editorial published by the Express as a powerful act of protest against censorship.
In his concluding remarks on X, Shashi Tharoor added a nuanced point, wishing the Prime Minister had acknowledged how Ramnath Goenka used the English language as a potent tool to champion the cause of Indian nationalism, demonstrating that the language itself could be reclaimed from its colonial past.
