PM Modi Attends SRCC Centenary Celebrations, Calls for Bigger Dreams and a Viksit Bharat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, September 5, attended the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi University, marking 100 years of one of India’s best-known institutions for commerce, economics and management. The celebration coincided with Teachers’ Day.
SRCC was established in 1926 by industrialist and philanthropist Sir Shri Ram. Over a century, the institution has produced generations of professionals, entrepreneurs, administrators, policymakers and public figures. The college’s year-long centenary programme has included academic, cultural and other events.
Modi’s visit was also notable because he returned to SRCC after nearly 13 years. He had visited the institution in 2013, when he was Gujarat’s Chief Minister and before becoming Prime Minister the following year.
The Prime Minister travelled to the event by Delhi Metro, where he interacted with passengers and students. His Metro journey became one of the most visible moments surrounding the centenary programme.
In his address, Modi reflected on SRCC’s contribution to India’s intellectual and economic life and praised its alumni. He described the institution as having played an important role in shaping generations of young Indians who went on to contribute in business, public life and other fields.
A major part of his speech focused on India’s economic transformation. Modi contrasted the country’s situation in 2013 with its present position, pointing to India’s reported 7.8% growth amid global economic uncertainty. He argued that India had moved from a period of “policy paralysis” toward what he described as “policy dynamism.”
Modi urged young Indians to think beyond conventional ambitions and argued that Indian companies should aspire to lead globally just as Indian professionals already occupy senior positions in leading international corporations. He linked this ambition to the broader goal of building a developed and self-reliant India.
The Prime Minister also used contemporary youth terminology during the speech, referring to SRCC’s alumni as “OGs” and using expressions such as “flex” and “Dhurandhar.” The language drew attention because of Modi’s effort to connect his message with younger audiences.
The centenary event therefore combined SRCC’s institutional history with a broader political and economic message: Modi used the college’s 100-year journey as a backdrop to highlight India’s changing economy, the role of education and the aspirations of the country’s younger generation.
