Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday for articulating a bold vision for India’s future, combining economic strategy with a call to embrace the nation’s cultural and linguistic heritage.

PM Modi delivered the address at the Sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture, where he reflected on India’s post-Bihar election momentum, clarifying, “Some think I am in election mode 24x7… but I operate in emotional mode, focusing on people’s problems.”

The Prime Minister also highlighted the lasting impact of Thomas Babington Macaulay’s 1835 Minute on Indian Education, which prioritised English over Indian languages. Modi urged India to learn from nations like Japan, China, and Korea, which embraced global knowledge without compromising their native languages. “Macaulay’s legacy will complete 200 years in 2035. Today, we must commit the next decade to liberating ourselves from this colonial mindset,” he said.

Responding to the speech, Shashi Tharoor wrote on X that the Prime Minister showcased India as an “emerging model” for the world, not just an emerging market, emphasizing economic resilience and development. Tharoor also noted Modi’s push to reverse the “200-year legacy of slave mentality,” praising his call for a 10-year national mission to strengthen pride in Indian heritage, languages, and indigenous knowledge systems.

Tharoor highlighted that Modi’s address seamlessly combined economic insight with cultural revival, and described it as “both an economic outlook and a cultural call to action.” Despite battling a bad cold, Tharoor said he felt privileged to be in the audience and witness the speech firsthand.