PM Modi at SRCC
New Delhi: Speaking at the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 5, Saturday revisited his much-discussed 2013 address at college. He recalled the difficult economic and security environment India faced at that time and highlighted the transformation the country has witnessed in a decade. Speaking at SRCC’s centenary celebrations, PM Modi also celebrated the institution’s legacy and its influential alumni network across diverse fields.
Meanwhile, PM Modi slammed the opposition political parties for spreading misinformation and false claims about India’s growth story. He said, “Sach ki hoonkar ke aage, Jhooth ki gunj tik nahi”. He illustrated India’s tremondous growth across sectors from defence, manufacturing to national security & governance.
“I have the courage to stand here with my report card. In 2013, when I said ‘Made in India’, their entire ecosystem mocked it as impossible. Those rotten with that SLAVE MINDSET still scoff today—meanwhile, the world bows to Make in India’s GLOBAL dominance”, PM Modi reiterated.
Congratulating students, faculty and alumni on the completion of 100 years, PM Modi described the occasion as historic not only for SRCC but also for India’s education sector. “Several generations that have been part of SRCC have come together here,” he said, noting the institution’s enduring contribution to the country.
PM Modi recalled his previous association with the college, particularly his 2013 address when he was Gujarat Chief Minister and a member of the Opposition. He stressed that instead of using the platform to launch political attacks against the then government, he had chosen to present a positive vision for India.
“I presented a vision. I spoke positively. Whatever I said then was my conviction”, PM Modi said, adding that he had continued to follow the path he outlined at the time.
Referring to the India of 2013, PM Modi recalled a period marked by economic uncertainty, security concerns and allegations of corruption. He cited several headlines from that period, including the killing of Indian soldiers along the Line of Control(LoC), a lowered World Bank growth forecast, a record current account deficit, inflation of around 10 per cent and a slowdown in the industrial sector.
He also referred to corruption allegations surrounding the helicopter deal, bomb blasts in Hyderabad and widespread discussions over “policy paralysis”. “Growth was at the bottom, while inflation was at the peak. Scams were at their height”, PM Modi said, recalling how India was then being counted among the world’s “Fragile Five” economies.
He added that terrorism and cross-border security concerns further contributed to a sense of disappointment and despair.
PM Modi also reflected on the renewed public interest in his 2013 SRCC speech, saying people had revisited, listened to and discussed the address extensively in recent days. “In a way, I can say that the speech created a wave,” he said, adding that the impact of that gathering and address continued even 13–14 years later.
Taking a light-hearted dig while discussing SRCC’s alumni, PM Modi remarked, “Dhurandhar na ho, lekin dhoom toh machayi hai,” underlining the institution’s influence across sectors.
Praising the college’s alumni network, PM Modi described SRCC graduates as the “OGs” and highlighted personalities such as former Union minister Arun Jaitley and economist Sanjeev Sanyal. He noted that SRCC has produced influential figures in economics, politics, law, the judiciary and the arts.
“Simply saying ‘SRCC’ is a flex in itself,” PM Modi remarked, capturing the college’s reputation within Delhi University and beyond.
