Colonial-era thinking must end by 2035, Modi says at Goenka memorial lecture

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture in New Delhi on November 17, 2025, where he formally honoured the legacy of Ramnath Goenka's courage demonstrated during India's Emergency era. The Prime Minister utilized his address to not only highlight the developmental record of his government but also to powerfully reiterate the need for India to completely eradicate what he termed the "colonial mindset of slavery" by the year 2035.

During the lecture, it was emphasized that India’s economic growth rate of seven percent had been sustained, and it was noted that nearly 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty in recent years. Welfare achievements such as the construction of 12 crore toilets were also cited as examples of large-scale social transformation undertaken across the country.

The National Education Policy was mentioned as a key pillar through which this colonial mindset was expected to be dismantled, and swadeshi efforts were described as essential for building national self-confidence. It was further underlined that a shift in societal thinking, rather than only administrative changes, would be required to achieve this goal by 2035.

A link was also drawn to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s recent victory in the Bihar elections, with it being stated that the outcome was seen as a reflection of empathetic governance rather than mere electoral strategy. The prime minister’s message was projected as one that placed moral leadership, cultural confidence and people-centric administration at the forefront of India’s next phase of development.