The founding fathers of a modern India of the mid-20th century hoped for at the dawn of independence.
Eight decades on since 1947, incumbent PM Narendra Modi has set the target of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.
Bharat as a nation and its people have miles to go before achieving the Milestone.
Jawaharlal Nehru, who was first elected prime minister in 1952, took the oath of office on May 13 (1952) and remained in the post until May 27, 1964, serving an uninterrupted tenure of 4,398 days. Modi surpassed that on June 10, 2026.
Modi being served jhalmuri by Suvendu Adhikari during NDA meeting in New Delhi
“… A success of the NDA’s 12 years in power is that the country has broken free from the web of Congress’s machinations… they would make people believe that in India, only slow development happens, they had named it 'Hindu growth rate', they would blame Hindus, but it should have been 'Congress growth rate', there used to be no governance, policy, intent, decisiveness.…," the Prime Minister said at a ceremony of the ruling combine.
Unlike Nehru, Narendra Modi has braved through these years a very unfriendly political atmosphere and highly critical media. Nehru was media's darling especially from the west.
In 2002, Modi was the 'newsmaker' no doubt; but a popular magazine effortlessly called him the 'Master Divider'. In the case of Nehru; even if there were critics they would hail India's first PM quite easily.
"Nehru’s foreign policy was seriously flawed. But what an image he projected to the world for years as prime minister of newly independent India,” said A.G. Noorani, a constitutional expert, a few years back.
In other words, Nehru was great despite his serious flaws and grave failures.
In 2002 after Gujarat elections results came giving Modi a massive mandate to rule and experiment his 'model' of governance; 'India Today' wrote -- ".... the Modi brand of politics - divisive and sectarian - may have won the BJP a massive victory in a traumatised state but will not win the soul of India".
In the words of veteran Naga leader S C Jamir, who was also Governor of Gujarat, - “Pt Nehru largely worked through officers and institutions, whereas Modi engages directly ... If you raise an issue with him, he addresses it personally without intermediaries".
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| S C Jamir and Modi |
On June 10th, Modi also said: “The Congress dragged the country into multi-crore rupee scams.
The nation’s destiny changed again when the NDA government was formed in 2014. The country witnessed the pace of development when intent, policy, and decision-making align and work in unison.
Unfortunately, however, in 2004, the country was once again caught in a vortex of instability and the stranglehold of the Congress…”.
“I believe that we must not let those who were poor yesterday, and have now become the 'neo middle class', slip back.
Therefore, as a government and as public representatives, we must work day and night. We have put in the utmost effort, driven by the resolve to fulfil the expectations that this nation of 1.4 billion people has placed in us.
We must realise the aspirations of India's youth, its women, its middle class, and its farmers…”, said PM Modi.
"The sun of hope that rose in 2014 has today transformed into a radiant orb of newfound confidence.
Over the past 12 years, the people of India have witnessed for the first time that when a government is run with the right intent, development too happens at a rapid pace."
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| Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
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As India is now almost 78 and would turn 80 on Aug. 15, 2027, we have reasons to be proud of what we as a nation have achieved.
But what about legitimate concerns regarding the direction the nation is taking.
PM Modi speaks about Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas laying emphasis on inclusive social vision and equitable economic development and concerns for the less fortunate sections of the society too.
The BJP resolution described Modi’s achievement as a reflection of “India’s democratic consciousness, public trust and people’s participation”.
It also praised Modi’s leadership, saying his “public life had been marked by service, courage and a relentless commitment to nation-building”.
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