I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

Vanakkam Melbourne
Namaskaar mates!
How are you all doing?
Kem chho?

This show is houseful, it’s a blockbuster.

Before I begin my speech, I request all of you to switch on your mobile phone flashlights and join me in honoring the Premier of Victoria and my friend, the Prime Minister.

Friends,

Before this, I had met you twice in Sydney. I, too, was looking forward to meeting the people of Melbourne. So, I thought that this time, I would enjoy a cup of flat white coffee with the people of Melbourne.

Friends,

The energy with which all of you—and our Aussie friends—have welcomed us is truly amazing. In a way, Melbourne has stolen the show.

Friends,

I am also grateful to my friend, a friend of India, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. You were with us in Sydney, and today you are here again in Melbourne, among the Indian community. In a way, it feels like we've come full circle.

Ahmedabad, home to the world's largest cricket stadium, and Melbourne, home to its iconic stadium—we are connected in more ways than one. Friends, we have all seen that whenever Prime Minister Albanese speaks, he wins the hearts and minds of Indians. You created quite a buzz in Sydney, and you've done it again here in Melbourne.

I also express my gratitude to the Premier of Victoria for her energetic remarks and for the warmth and affection she expressed towards India.

Friends,

When I visited Australia in 2014, it was after a gap of 28 years that an Indian Prime Minister had come here. And you may recall that I had then said that you would never have to wait another 28 years for such a visit.

Over the past 12 years, this is my third visit to Australia—in other words, I've scored a hat-trick this time. This reflects the remarkable heights that India–Australia relations have reached. And do you know who deserves the biggest credit for this? Not Modi. The credit goes to all of you, my friends to the Indian diaspora.

Friends,

They say that Melbourne lets you experience all four seasons in a single day. But the Indian community has made it even more vibrant with its rich cultural colours.

Here in Melbourne and its surrounding areas, there are many places and markets that are filled with the spirit of India. Some call them Little India, while others call them Mini India. Whatever the name, they are all infused with the colours of Indian culture.

Someone recently showed me a video of one such market. The video mentioned that there are always great sales going on there. And people get so caught up in the shopping frenzy. Even if they're not in the mood to shop, they somehow end up buying something anyway. Am I right?

Friends,

Many of you came to Australia for the first time, while many others were born here. Generations may have changed, but the spirit of Indianness within you has always remained alive. I'm sure many of you have at least two time zones running in your homes. Here, children return from school according to Australian time, while grandparents in India are eagerly waiting for a video call. Here it's the weekend, and in India you're watching a family wedding being live-streamed. The distance may be thousands of kilometers, but your daily routine is still deeply connected to India. And while maintaining that bond, all of you are contributing wholeheartedly to Australia's growth and progress. I am proud of each one of you.

Friends,

That's who we Indians are. Just like sugar dissolves in milk and makes it sweeter, we Indians spread love wherever we go.

The milk at home may be Australian, but the tea is Indian. The vegetables and lentils may come from Australia, but they're cooked with Indian spices.

Friends,

You may have heard that a new trend called 'Bhajan Clubbing' is becoming popular in India these days. It's being driven by our Gen Z. And I've heard that here in Australia too, your weekends are filled with faith and spirituality.

Somewhere, a family is hosting a Satyanarayan Katha; somewhere, prayers are being offered at a Gurudwara; elsewhere, children are performing Bhangra or Bharatanatyam; and somewhere else, a cricket tournament is in full swing.

And now, even the Indian Film Festival has become a part of Melbourne's cultural calendar. In just a few days, the Indian Film Festival will begin here in Melbourne. I extend my best wishes in advance for its successful celebration.

Friends,

All of you are contributing to Australia's growth through your hard work. But I know that one eye is always on India. You closely follow what's happening in India—its progress, its pace, and its achievements.

Friends,

The India of the 21st century is working with a clear goal—to become a developed nation. And the beauty of this journey is that the moment one dream is fulfilled, a new dream is born.

There was a time when we used to say, "One lamp lights another, until thousands shine together." Today, I say: “one dream leads to another, and soon thousands of dreams are born." Every time we achieve one goal, we set our sights on an even bigger one.

This is the India that believes: Grow More. Achieve More.

We are a nation of 1.4 billion aspirations. We are impatient to move forward, eager to achieve more. We are already the world's fastest-growing major economy, but we want to become one of the world's top three economies as soon as possible. Because our inspiration is simple: Grow More. Achieve More.

Friends,

You have seen it yourselves—India successfully landed Chandrayaan on the Moon's south pole, something no other country had achieved. But India did not stop there, because India believes: Grow More. Achieve More.

That's why, my friends, India is now preparing to send its Gaganyaan mission into space. We are also moving ahead with the goal of building our own space station.

Friends,

Just a few years ago, there were many questions about 5G technology in India. When would it be launched? How would it be rolled out? How long would it take? We began rolling out 5G at the end of 2022, and today, 99 percent of India's districts are covered by it. And I'm sure you'll be happy to know, my friends, that India is among the countries with the fastest 5G rollouts in the world.

Today, India has become the world's second-largest 5G market. And that's not all—India is now moving rapidly towards developing Made-in-India 6G technology. That's because we believe: Grow More. Achieve More.

Friends,

Over the past 12 years, metro rail networks have expanded to more than two dozen cities across India. Today, over 12.5 million people travel by metro every single day. India now has the world's third-largest metro rail network. But we Indians are not satisfied with that either. We believe: Grow More. Achieve More.

That is why we are rapidly expanding high-speed transit systems like the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and semi-high-speed trains like Vande Bharat across the country.

Another example is the success of Make in India. Over the past 12 years, Make in India has grown into a global brand. Indian-made mobile phones and electronics are reaching markets around the world. Our automobiles and pharmaceutical products have expanded their global presence. And today, the world is witnessing the capability and credibility of India's defence platforms.

You also saw a demonstration of this during Operation SINDOOR. The explosions were at terrorist hideouts, but their impact echoed across the world. Did the decisive strikes on those terror camps make you feel proud?

Friends,

India doesn't want to stop there; India is saying, "Grow More, Achieve More." Therefore, today, a new manufacturing ecosystem is being developed in India, from chips to ships.

Friends,

The foundation of India's big dreams and bold aspirations is its people. It is the citizens of India We the People who give these dreams their energy. People First, or Nagrik Devo Bhava—'the citizen is paramount' has become the guiding principle of governance in today's India.

Let me give you an example. Until a few years ago, document attestation was a common requirement. Whether you wanted to apply for something or submit any official document, you first had to get it attested by a government officer.

People would stand in long queues early in the morning, just to prove that they were who they claimed to be. But for us, the citizen comes first. That is no longer the case. Today, for most purposes, self-attestation is all that's needed.

That journey of trust has now evolved into DigiLocker a digital platform where Indians can securely store their documents in digital form. With just one click, documents can be shared, verified, and accepted.

Friends,

Creating a system is one thing. Building it at scale, with security and reliability, is a much greater achievement. Do you know how many people use DigiLocker in India today? I know it's not an easy number to remember.

As of today, DigiLocker has more than 700 million users. And together, they have stored over 850 crores documents on the platform. More than 8.5 billion documents.

Friends,

Another example of our philosophy of 'Nagarik Devo Bhava' is India's healthcare system. Today, millions of Indians have a secure Digital Health ID, where their complete medical history is stored digitally. This is helping improve diagnosis and making healthcare delivery more efficient across the country.

And that's not all. Teleconsultation is also growing rapidly. Through the government's eSanjeevani platform, more than 480 million teleconsultations have been conducted so far. Over 225,000 healthcare providers are connected to this platform.

Friends,

At one time, you all must have faced passport-related problems. Remember how many weeks it used to take to get a passport? But today, on average, a passport is issued in just a few days. This is citizen-first governance. This is the success of the mantra of 'Nagarik Devo Bhava.'

Friends,

I often say that the stronger India becomes, the greater the benefit for all of humanity. Our timeless ethos is सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिन: means 'May everyone be happy and prosperous.' It is this eternal value that continues to guide India's policies and actions today.

Friends,

Just last month, Venezuela was struck by a devastating earthquake. The destruction was immense, and hundreds of people lost their lives. We did not let distance stand in the way. We treated the people of Venezuela's suffering as our own. India launched a relief and rescue operation to help those affected.

We sent assistance as quickly as possible, deployed our experts, and our medical teams began work without delay. I am deeply satisfied that these efforts helped save many lives.

Friends,

Similarly, when Türkiye and Syria were struck by devastating earthquakes, India responded swiftly by sending relief and rescue assistance. There are many such examples. Last year, we launched Operation Brahma to support Myanmar. And when Sri Lanka was hit by a devastating cyclone, we carried out Operation Sagar Bandhu to provide relief and assistance.

Friends,

The memories of the COVID-19 pandemic are still fresh in our minds. During that difficult time, India not only brought its own citizens home but also helped citizens of many other countries return safely to theirs. We carried out large-scale rescue operations, delivered medicines to those in need, and supplied vaccines to more than 100 countries. Even in conflict zones, India has consistently made every effort to evacuate people caught in crisis.

Friends,

When India extends a helping hand, it does not look at passports. When India sends assistance, it does not see the colour of a passport. That is why the world places such deep trust in India.

Friends,

I know that Australia, too, plays a significant role in serving humanity. This shared commitment is one of the key pillars of the partnership between our two nations.

There is another sector that further strengthens our ties - sports. In the world of sports, Australia is a brand in itself. And in India too, the sporting ecosystem is undergoing a remarkable transformation.

Friends,

You may have heard of the Khelo India Mission. It is not just a sports policy—it is a nationwide movement that is building a strong pipeline of young athletes, starting right from the school level. Khelo India Games are held at the school, university, and national levels, with hundreds of thousands of athletes taking part.

Under this mission, sports infrastructure is being developed even in India's remote regions. This is creating greater opportunities for athletes, especially for our daughters. And this effort is not limited to cities. Through initiatives like the Sansad Khel Mahakumbh, sports and fitness are being promoted in villages across the country and connected with career opportunities.

The results are clearly visible on the field. India's athletes and sports teams are going from better to best.

Friends,

It is this confidence that is taking India to the next level in global sport. India will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and we are also bidding to host the 2036 Olympic Games. I am confident that the partnership between India and Australia in the field of sports will continue to grow even stronger.

Friends,

Whatever India and Australia do together is beneficial for both our countries. A major example of this is the India-Australia Trade Agreement. You may remember this sher:

Main akela hi chala tha jaanib-e-manzil,
Log saath aate gaye aur karvaan banta gaya.

In the same way, the India-Australia Agreement was just the beginning. Today, that caravan has grown into trade agreements with nearly 40 countries across the world.

Friends,

We are not merely a trading nation. We attach great importance to innovation, science and technology. Australia has many remarkable achievements to its credit. Innovations such as the hearing implant, Wi-Fi, the cervical cancer vaccine, the flight black box, and the secret ballot voting system all bear Australia's significant contribution. Today, these innovations are helping make the world a better place.

Friends,

India, too, is transforming its science, technology and innovation ecosystem. You will be pleased to know that today, more than 10,000 schools across India have Atal Tinkering Labs. These labs are nurturing a mindset of innovation right from the school level.

Over the past 12 years, India has become the world's third-largest start-up ecosystem. But if I tell you the numbers, you too will be surprised. Would you like to hear the data?

Today, India has more than 200,000 registered start-ups. Every month, more than 4,000 new start-ups are registered in the country. Hundreds of start-ups are also working in sectors such as defence and space. I am sharing these examples because all these sectors were once closed in India. It is only in the last few years that they have been opened up to private entrepreneurship. And now, an Indian space start-up is set to launch satellites aboard its own rocket for the very first time.

Friends,

I am pleased that the India-Australia partnership in education, skills and innovation is becoming deeper and stronger. Today, thousands of Indian students are pursuing their education in Australia. And now, Australian universities are also opening their campuses in India.

The campuses of Deakin University and the University of Wollongong have already commenced operations. More Australian universities are moving in the same direction. And this is not just about opening new campuses. It is also a mission to prepare global leaders and create a skilled and innovative talent pool for the world.

Friends,

I have shared so much with you about India. Now I would also like to make a request. Some time ago, we launched the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz for the children of our Indian diaspora. This quiz introduces the world to India's diversity and, at the same time, helps connect members of the Indian community and their families with their heritage. I am happy to know that this year, many young friends in Australia participated in the curtain-raiser for this programme. The sixth edition of the competition is now about to begin. This time, it will feature a gamified format with several competitions. I urge all Indian community families in Australia to participate in it. At the same time, I encourage you to invite your Australian friends, your friends from school, and your friends from college to participate in this competition as well.

Friends,

All of you have worked hard and made a significant contribution to strengthening India-Australia relations. But your role does not end here; in fact, your responsibilities have now grown even greater. India-Australia partnership is now entering a new phase.

So, continue to infuse India-Australia relations with the same enthusiasm. Keep hitting fours and sixes. Your success is the success of both India and Australia.

Friends,

Once again, I express my heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Albanese and to all of you, my friends, for today's program.

Bharat Mata Ki Jai
Vande Mataram!
 

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister's address. Original address was delivered in Hindi.

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MJPS/SS/ST