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PM Modi revisited his 2013 SRCC speech, contrasting India’s economic and security challenges then with its position today while using Gen Z language.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing students of SRCC.
While addressing students of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used Gen Z-friendly phrases such as “OG”, and even brought in a reference to the recently popular film Dhurandhar as he returned to the college 13 years after his 2013 address.
PM Modi began by referring to his earlier speech, which he said had been discussed and watched again in recent days. “What I said in 2013 was my conviction,” he told the students.
From ‘Dhurandhar’ To ‘Revisit’
Speaking in a lighter tone, PM Modi told the students, “You may not be a Dhurandhar, but make some noise,” urging them to make an impact even if they were not Dhurandhar. He also used the word “revisit” while asking the younger generation to look back at the situation in India when he last addressed SRCC in 2013.
PM Modi asked students to check online what newspapers were reporting at the time, when the Congress-led UPA government was in power and he was the chief minister of Gujarat.
While recalling SRCC’s distinguished alumni, PM Modi said, “SRCC’s alumni have also been very special. If I put it in your language, the alumni here are the OGs.”
Comparing the two periods, PM Modi said India in 2013 was dealing with a series of challenges, including terror attacks, inflation and corruption.
“Growth was on the floor and inflation was at the peak,” he said, adding that scams and corruption had reached their peak.
He recalled the atmosphere at the time by saying, “There was nothing but disappointment and despair.”
PM Modi also referred to security challenges and the situation along the Line of Control, contrasting the response of his government with that of the period before 2014.
Taking a swipe at Pakistan, PM Modi contrasted the country’s response to cross-border attacks then and now.
“Today, when Pakistan does something, we enter their home and strike,” he said, referring to India’s approach towards Pakistan under his government.
He also recalled how India was described internationally at the time, saying that the country was being called a “Fragile Five”—a phrase he used while contrasting India’s position in 2013 with its standing today.
PM Modi said India is now being recognised as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. He pointed to the latest GDP figures, with the economy growing 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter of 2026, according to official data.
A Fresh Gen Z Outreach?
PM Modi’s choice of language at SRCC comes amid a noticeable push by the BJP and its leaders to connect with younger audiences following the recent Gen Z-led protests at Jantar Mantar. BJP MPs have recently used terms such as “MIA”, “FOMO” and “Delulu” in Parliament, while the Prime Minister himself has increasingly used Instagram-style videos and youth-oriented messaging.
The Jantar Mantar protests, driven heavily by memes, reels and internet culture, showed how effectively Gen Z could use social media to mobilise and shape political discourse. The movement eventually led to the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
PM Modi’s return to SRCC, therefore, was not just a revisit to a speech he delivered in 2013. It also came at a time when political parties are increasingly trying to understand and speak the language of a generation that communicates through reels, memes and internet slang.
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Ask News18During his address at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), PM Modi used Gen Z-friendly phrases such as “OG” and referenced the popular film “Dhurandhar” to connect with the students.
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Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can …Read More
September 05, 2026, 8:25 PM IST
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