This document discusses the history and principles of rhetoric and public speaking. It notes that rhetoric, or the art of verbal persuasion, has been practiced for thousands of years in many ancient civilizations as a way for people to express their ideas and gain support. The Greeks are credited with establishing the core elements of a good speech: logical reasoning, specificity, and evoking emotions. It analyzes how the annual Independence Day speeches given by Indian Prime Ministers at Red Fort have changed over time, both in topic and oratory style. It encourages open debate on this topic but stresses focusing the discussion on these three classical elements of rhetoric.

1. From Nehru To Modi: What’s
Changed In Red Fort Rhetoric…?
The invent of artistically structured system of speeches – public speaking, is around 2500
years old, though advent of public speaking may be 10,000 years old, when humans began
to live in well ensconced tribal societies.
In almost all ancient civilizations, including India, public speaking and speeches have a long
and deep history. The Greek may have it well recorded as an art, even meant for public at
large but, we all know, speech delivery is a favorite artistry with all humans. Therefore, one
may say with hesitation that every human is an orator in his or her own right. This is
instinctive in humans. How?
In human artistry, this is referred to as rhetoric – the art and science of verbal persuasion
on a subject, to elicit support for it. Therefore, rhetoric is everyone’s first choice as

2. everyone instinctively wants all others to support his or her point of view, worldview,
perspectives and ideas.
The critical aspect is – rhetoric, speech making and public address have been and shall
always remain not only an art but also a science. Therefore, 2500 years back, the Greek laid
down the rules of rhetoric. This has remained valid till date and all modern rhetoric of big
and impacting people have had these elements.
The Greek laid down three core elements of a good speech –
1. Logical Reasoning –
2. Specificity –
3. Emotions –
It translates into a simple fact that a speech, in order to qualify as good and impacting must
contain elements of strong and objective logic, which majority can never deny. Secondly, it
must be specific enough to directly make average person relate to his or her own life. Third,
it must evoke sense of emotional attachment to the subject, the orator has brought about…
Somehow, there was a tradition in India about the 15th August Independence Day speech of
Prime Ministers at the Red Fort. At the very outset, it was outlined that the ‘subject’ shall be
‘India – Vision Of Future’. The customary or embedded subject was commemoration of
independence. Primarily, it seems, the ‘subject’ has now changed and what it has become is
for public discourse and debate…
Secondly, over the years, speeches and oratory has also changed. This change is also open
for public discourse and debate. The debate however should focus on the three cardinal
elements of rhetoric, which has not changed since thousands of years, since it was framed
and accepted –
1. Logical Reasoning –
2. Specificity –
3. Emotions –

3. … As the legendary economist and Nobel Prize winner, Shri Amartya Sen has said, We are
the indefatigable ‘Argumentative Indians’; we surely can debate and discuss about the
contemporary state of Red Fort speech. We, however, must drop personal and ism-specific
biases and follow objective logicality in assessing the righteousness on the basis of the
above-mentioned three core elements of rhetoric only…
Let the talk begin…