Modi Completes 25 Years In Public Service, Says ‘We Will Do It’ To Build Viksit Bharat By 2047

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday marked 25 years in public service and as the head of a government, saying India must move ahead with the spirit of “We Will Do It” to achieve the goal of a developed India, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047.

Addressing the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha, organised to mark his 25-year journey in public life, Modi outlined several ambitious targets for India, including becoming the world’s third-largest economy, emerging as a global manufacturing hub and becoming a market leader in key sectors.

He said India should aim to achieve these goals by 2047, drawing a parallel with the freedom struggle and recalling how Indians had dreamt of independence despite the country being weakened by wars, attacks and foreign rule.

“…We got freedom because the people of this country sacrificed their lives, and today, when we have to be a developed nation, we have to live for the country,” he said.

‘140 Crore Indians Will Build Developed India’

Modi said the dream of a developed India was achievable and there was no reason for the country to stop pursuing its ambitions.

“Our dream today of a developed India will surely come true. There is no reason for India to stop now. A 100 years ago, we were even less than 40 crore; today, we are more than 140 crore. The 140 crore countrymen together will build a developed India by 2047, and we certainly will. We Will Do It!” he said amid loud cheers from the audience.

The Prime Minister urged Indians to take the lead in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, space technology and climate crisis management. He said the country should aspire to develop solutions that could eventually be adopted globally.

“Today, the world is talking about India’s pilot (Schmit Machchar). A day will come when the world will talk about Made-in-India aircraft. These goals will be achieved through visionary policies and relentless hard work. India may have challenges, but we also have 140 crore solutions,” he said.

Modi Calls For Extraordinary And Ambitious Goals

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the targets would be difficult but said the resilience and determination of Indians could make them a reality.

“What seemed unimaginable once has become possible. Who would have thought that 25 crore people could rise out of poverty within a decade? Yet India made it happen,” he said.

He called for setting new goals across sectors including education, entertainment, healthcare, sports, innovation and technology.

“Whether it is education, entertainment, health and wellness, sports, innovation or technology, the world should look at India. Our goals must be such that the Tricolour rises with pride in every field,” Modi said.

Modi Highlights Government’s Record Since 2014

Reflecting on his government’s performance at the Centre since 2014, Modi said India’s economic position and global perception had changed significantly over the past 12 years.

He contrasted the governance narrative before 2014 with the reforms undertaken by his government.

“Then (before 2014) they used to talk about policy paralysis, and today we talk about the reforms express; then they were trying to look for ideas to increase imports, and today we are creating new records for exports,” he said.

Modi also highlighted agricultural growth between 2015 and 2025, attributing the performance to political intent and policy measures.

Modi Targets Opposition Over ‘Vote Politics’

Taking a swipe at the opposition without naming any party, Modi said one of the country’s major challenges had been attempts to divide society along electoral lines.

“But when a farmer’s field lacks water, does the problem affect only one caste? When there is no electricity, does darkness fall only on one community? The answer is no. If the problem belongs to everyone, the solution must be for everyone,” he said.

He also criticised previous governments over issues such as Naxal violence and Article 370.

“The problem of Article 370 seemed unending but today Article 370 is gone, similarly the problem of Naxalism had been accepted but today we have broken the spine of Naxal violence. Humne ghar mein ghus ke mara…,” he said.

Modi Reflects On 25 Years At The Helm

Modi, who was sworn in as Gujarat chief minister on October 7, 2001, recalled the challenges he faced when he first took charge of the state government.

“I had never thought that such a milestone would come one day when I took the oath of office on October 7 in Gujarat. Today I have completed 25 years as the head of government, and I have been serving continuously for these years. This is a result of the blessings that people have been giving me, and I expressed gratitude…” he said.

He expressed gratitude to the Constitution and democracy, as well as to the people who elected him, his party colleagues and NDA allies.

Modi also said he visited a temple earlier in the day and prayed for the country as well as for the strength and courage to serve people with greater energy.

“I prayed for the people at the temple this morning and for myself as well that I should get strength and courage to do more work with greater energy for my country. I should be able to serve my countrymen more…” he said.

‘I Still Consider Myself A Student’

Reflecting on his approach to learning, Modi said the curiosity he had as a school student in Vadnagar continues to guide him.

“When I used to go to school in Vadnagar, I was one of the students who would reach the class first. I had the hunger to learn. It has become a part of my life. Even today, I think of myself as a student. I try to learn something new every day,” he said.

He added that during his temple visit, he prayed that his capacity to learn would never diminish.

‘Critics Taught Me The Power Of Democracy’

Modi said his journey had been shaped by people who supported him as well as those who criticised or opposed him.

“I feel gratitude towards every person and event that taught me something. The one who made me win taught me to be humble. The one who made me fall taught me to stand up again. Well-wishers encouraged me, and critics taught me to look within myself. The one who stood by me showed me the power of faith. The one who opposed me explained to me the power of democracy,” he said.

He added that every crisis had tested his patience, while every success had expanded his responsibilities and every achievement had strengthened his determination to pursue bigger goals.

Modi recalled events including the Morbi floods, the Bhuj earthquake, the initial failure of Chandrayaan and the Covid-19 pandemic, saying each had taught him important lessons.

‘This Is Not A Matter Of Personal Glorification’

The Prime Minister said completing 25 years as the head of a government should not be viewed as an occasion for personal glorification.

He said the purpose of reviewing his journey was not to assess how far he had personally travelled, but to examine how far the country had progressed.

“When I was in Gujarat, I used to live with a mantra that the country should progress through the progress made in Gujarat. It was a time full of challenges, and I did not have experience in running a government, nor did I have knowledge of bureaucracy and administration. The only thing I had was faith in people. I took decisions, made policy and implemented it, taking people along,” he said.

He said his experience in Gujarat taught him about ground-level challenges, bureaucratic delays, policy implementation and the importance of ensuring last-mile delivery.

From Gujarat To ‘Pradhan Sevak’

Modi said the experience he gained while governing Gujarat became useful when he took on the responsibility of leading the country in 2014.

“In 2014, the country gave me added responsibility as Pradhan Sevak. There were problems all around and challenges everywhere, and citizens were looking for a new pathway,” he said.

Recalling the economic challenges facing India at the time, Modi said people were looking for a new dream and a new hope.

“I went back to the people, with the mantra of we will do it,” he said.

He said the same determination and collective effort would be crucial for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.