NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday used popular Gen Z expressions and a reference to the film Dhurandhar during his address at Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), returning to the institution 13 years after his previous speech there attracted widespread attention.
Addressing SRCC’s centenary celebrations, Modi described the college’s alumni as “OGs”, using the slang term commonly associated with people regarded as authentic, exceptional or highly accomplished.
“SRCC’s alumni have been very special… they took the glory of the college to the global level. If I put it in your language, the alumni here are the OGs,” Modi said.
He also used the word “Dhurandhar”, which refers to a stalwart or formidable person, while praising the institution’s former students. “Dhurandhar na ho lekin dhoom machai hei (They may not be the stalwarts, but they have made a splash),” he said.
The prime minister’s use of contemporary youth terminology comes amid efforts by the BJP and its leaders to strengthen their outreach to younger audiences. BJP MPs have recently used expressions such as “FOMO” and “delulu” in Parliament, while Modi has increasingly relied on short, social media-oriented videos for youth-focused communication.
Modi had addressed students at SRCC in 2013, when he was Gujarat chief minister. His speech received considerable attention at the time, particularly ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when he was the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
Recalling that visit, Modi said his 2013 address had “become a wave” and claimed that its impact continued to be felt more than a decade later.
He said India was facing several serious challenges in 2013, including terror attacks, high inflation and corruption. Economic growth was weak and the country was witnessing allegations of large-scale scams, he said.
Modi also recalled that India was then referred to internationally as part of the “Fragile Five”, contrasting the country’s position at that time with its present standing.
Referring to his message to students in 2013, Modi said the vision he had presented was based on his conviction and reflected his commitment to serving the country.
He recalled using the example of a glass containing water to describe his outlook at the time. While some viewed the glass as half full and others as half empty, he said he had asked people to see it as completely full — half with water and half with air.
“It was a time when the country was lacking hope. So I said, ‘I see the glass as fully filled’,” he said.