13 years on, PM Modi remembers ‘OG’ alumni of SRCC, reaches out to Gen Z crowd

On Saturday, 13 years into the top office at the Centre – and after protests in Delhi and other places that made the government decide that ministers should visit campuses to interact with Gen Z – Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) to deliver a speech on Teacher's Day at a time when the college turns 100.

He was accompanied by newly-inducted Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi. Addressing the crowd, Modi said, "The journey of SRCC had begun in Daryaganj, and that small place has now become a huge tree. If someone asks you in which college you study, then saying I am from SRCC is in itself an impact." Remembering his 2013 speech at SRCC, Modi said, "I had said that a half-filled glass of water can be seen in three ways: some see it as half full, some as half empty, and some full to the brim, with water and air.

Those were days of despair for the country." He added that he had said here in 2013 that he saw the glass as full to the brim, with water and air. Modi asked the youth to check on internet what the condition in 2013 was; to check the news headlines at that time.

"LoC par bharatiyon ki hatya (death of Indians at LoC), World Bank ne GDP ka anumaan ghataya (World Bank reduces GDP projection)," Modi said recalling headlines in 2013, adding that the helicopter scam and bomb blasts in Hyderabad also made headlines that time.

"These things tell us about the situation of the country at that time," he said, adding, "Growth farsh par thi aur mehangayi arsh par thi (growth was in the ground, inflation was up in the skies)," he said. Modi added there was only hopelessness in those days.

Drawing a comparison with the present times, Modi said, "Today, those spreading terror are past and Indian forces hit Pakistan in its own home for any misadventure." Jammu and Kashmir is calm today, the Prime Minister said, and added that Naxalism has been dealt with a crushing blow.

Earlier, the world, he said, talked about policy paralysis in India and counted it in the fragile five, but is now seeing it as the fastest growing major economy. Talking about the quarterly GDP figure, Modi said the 7.8 per cent growth has enthused the country, adding that this comes at a time when a war is on in west Asia.

"This shows India's capability," he said. Modi said that those who were known for pushing India into the fragile five cannot digest these figures. The Prime Minister said that consumer demand and commercial activities are both high at present.

"India is growing and providing new avenues for employment. For the naysayers, the glass has been half empty since 2013, and will stay so," he said. "I had talked about pro-people good governance here in 2013," Modi said, adding that those in power earlier woke up only during crises.

"I have changed this approach and proved it since 2014," the PM said. PM Modi also praised financial inclusion through the Jan Dhan scheme. "Those who were criticising this scheme too enjoy only a half-filled glass but this is Modi, he stands like a rock in front of those promoting Maai Baap culture," Modi said.

He added, in front of truth, lies would not be able to stand. "I am not a person with small and easy goals. I have big goals for the country and strive to fulfill them with all my strength," Modi said. "I trust the country, its capacities, and all of young people," Modi said, adding India would be a developed country and a manufacturing hub, apart from being a research and innovation hub.

India would one day organise such an Olympics event that the world would marvel at it, the PM said. The PM said the lives of the students here was right now in the SRCC mode, connecting with them over some of their daily chores.

He added that after this campus they would encounter a new world. He said they would meet two kinds of people after their campus life — those who positively convert social strength into national strength, and those who become "naaraaz foofa (angry uncle)" on everything.

"Lekin Bharat ne saare foofaaon ko jawaab diya (the country answered all such uncles)," Modi said, adding that the country had gathered a new speed. The PM said many crises came up in the last six years — from COVID to wars — and many said the country wouldn't survive.

"My 'prashansaks' were happy that ab to Modi fansaa, ab to Modi giraa, ab to use kuchal hi denge (that Modi will now falter)". He added that the blessings of his countrymen had such strength that those having bad wishes for India were seeing all their desires collapse.

The PM said that now is the time to dream big. He wondered why India could not be a world leader in many sectors. "We are proud that Indians are leading top companies in the world. So, why should companies made by Indians not lead the world?

All this possible," Modi said. In 2013, the BJP’s prospective Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi visited Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in the national capital to reach out to a young audience outside Gujarat.