On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his longest Independence Day speech to date, lasting an impressive 98 minutes from the Red Fort.
This speech not only set a new record for length but also cemented Modi’s place in history with his 11th consecutive Independence Day address, surpassing his predecessor Manmohan Singh, who delivered 10 addresses during his tenure.
Modi’s average speech duration of 82 minutes exceeds that of any previous prime minister.
His longest speech before this was 96 minutes in 2016, while his shortest was 56 minutes in 2017.
In his 11th Independence Day address, Modi surpassed historical figures in speech length.
India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and I K Gujral previously held records for the longest addresses at 72 and 71 minutes, respectively.
In contrast, the shortest recorded speeches were by Nehru and Indira Gandhi, each lasting just 14 minutes in 1954 and 1966.
Manmohan Singh, who served as Prime Minister during the UPA government, gave shorter addresses, with his 2012 and 2013 speeches lasting 32 and 35 minutes.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, under the NDA rule, also had brief speeches in 2002 and 2003, lasting 25 and 30 minutes.
Besides setting a record for speech duration, PM Modi’s 11th consecutive Independence Day address places him among the notable figures who have consistently addressed the nation from the Red Fort.
Nehru holds the record with 17 addresses from 1947 to 1964, followed by Indira Gandhi with 16 addresses across two non-consecutive terms (1966-1977 and 1980-1984).
PM Modi’s Independence Day speeches over the years have varied in length:
This year’s address, marking his first after taking charge for a third term, underscored Modi’s commitment to addressing key national issues while setting new records in his Independence Day tradition.
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