New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India is undergoing a "psychological renaissance," shedding the vestiges of a colonial mindset and embracing a new era of confidence and self-reliance. Addressing the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit (HTLS) 2025 in New Delhi on Saturday, December 6, the Prime Minister highlighted the nation's evolving growth trajectory and its mission to shape the future over the next decade.
Modi emphasized that India's journey is not solely defined by development but also by a fundamental shift in mindset. He asserted that every sector is discarding the old colonial mentality and striving for new achievements with pride. "Our pace is constant. Our direction is consistent. Our intent is always Nation First," the Prime Minister affirmed, adding that India is becoming the key growth engine of the global economy.
A significant portion of the Prime Minister's address centered on dismantling the colonial mindset that had weakened India's confidence for centuries. He cited examples of how Indian culture, attire, festivals, and knowledge systems like Ayurveda and Yoga were once dismissed as inferior. He also noted that India's historic manufacturing capabilities, including shipbuilding and defense production, were dismantled after independence due to internalized colonial bias. Modi criticized the term "Hindu rate of growth," arguing that it reflected a prejudiced academic framework that unfairly linked cultural identity to economic stagnation. He called for a nationwide resolve to completely eliminate colonial thinking by 2035, marking 200 years since the implementation of Macaulay's education policies, which he said institutionalized mental subjugation.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the world has faced numerous challenges, including financial crises and a global pandemic, but India is emerging as a "different league" amid these uncertainties. He highlighted India's strong macroeconomic indicators, noting that the country has become a growth driver for the global economy, exhibiting high growth and low inflation. Modi also lauded India's achievement of reaching 50% clean energy in 2025, five years ahead of the initial target.
Modi underscored the transformation emerging from sectors and regions that had long been overlooked. He mentioned record infrastructure investments in Eastern India and the North-East, the growth of Tier-II and Tier-III cities as startup and MSME hubs, the integration of rural farmers into global supply chains through FPOs, and women-led growth across various fields.
The Prime Minister emphasized a shift from reactionary, crisis-driven reforms to long-term, nation-first reforms. He cited the introduction of the next-generation GST, zero income tax for income up to ₹12 lakh, the amended definition of Small Companies, and the removal of nearly 200 product categories from mandatory quality control requirements as examples of reforms aimed at promoting ease of doing business. He also mentioned the government's pledge to make 3 crore women "Lakhpati Didi," noting that the country is working at a fast pace and will achieve the target before time. Two crore women have already achieved this milestone.
Modi concluded by emphasizing that the citizens' trust in the government is its "biggest aspect". He acknowledged that a significant amount of money is lying unclaimed in banks, insurance companies, and dividends, and stressed the government's commitment to ensuring that this money reaches its rightful owners. He also reiterated his invitation to political parties and fellow leaders to come forward for the sake of the nation's bright future and join in the effort to build a strong and prosperous India.
