Atmanirbhar Bharat: Modi's Call for Civilisational Self-Assertion

From the ramparts of the Red Fort this Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered far more than a ceremonial Independence Day address.

- SIDDHARTHA DAVE

He laid out a civilisational doctrine—Atmanirbhar Bharat—as the principal pillar for achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047. In Modi's vision, self-reliance is not confined to economic self-sufficiency; it is the unshakeable foundation of sovereignty, dignity, and the collective destiny of Bharat.

This is not a policy in isolation but a continuation of the Swadeshi ethos, long upheld by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and nationalist thinkers, which sees indigenous capability as the truest measure of national strength.

Operation Sindoor: A Watershed in Strategic Autonomy
By invoking Operation Sindoor, Modi showcased India's capacity to act with decisive force using indigenous weapons and systems, without reliance on foreign approval or equipment. This was more than a military success—it was a symbolic severance from the chains of dependence forged over decades of imported defence hardware. It demonstrated that India, when threatened, will not stand in queue for international permissions but will act with sovereign resolve. For a nation often constrained by diplomatic hesitations in the past, this represents a paradigm shift in defence thinking.

Technological Sovereignty: From Jet Engines to Semiconductors
Modi's challenge to the youth to develop indigenous jet engines was not merely an industrial goal—it was a declaration of intent that India's defence future will be self-forged. Similarly, the announcement of Made-in-India semiconductor chips by the close of 2025 marks a leap into the high-tech elite, ensuring India cannot be held hostage by supply chain disruptions or foreign technology bans. This is Rashtra Shakti—national strength—materialising in the form of technological independence, a long-held dream of nationalist strategists.

Space, Energy, and the Strategic Future