NEW DELHI: Recalling the days when sending a press release required finding a fax machine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said technology had transformed journalism and politics over the past 25 years.
Addressing journalists at the BJP’s Diwali Milan event at the party headquarters in Delhi, Modi spoke about his early days in politics and the changes he had witnessed in the media landscape.
He recalled being entrusted with the responsibility of managing two major nationwide yatras in the early 1990s. His duties included coordinating arrangements and sending press releases, which often meant searching for a fax machine.
Later, while working at the BJP office on Ashoka Road in Delhi, he was responsible for welcoming guests and arranging seating during the party’s annual Diwali Milan gathering.
Journalism undergoes a major shift
Modi said newspapers and television channels were once the primary sources of news. Today, digital platforms, social media, YouTube channels, podcasts and Instagram reels have transformed the way information reaches people.
He also observed that while people earlier depended on experts for information on subjects such as cricket, today almost everyone has an opinion on every issue. The growing number of voices has created both opportunities and challenges for the media industry.
2047 vision and India’s achievements
Drawing a parallel between media deadlines and national development goals, Modi said clear targets and timelines were essential for progress.
He reiterated the vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, when the country will complete 100 years of independence. However, he stressed that the country should not wait until then and must achieve smaller milestones along the way.
Highlighting India’s recent achievements, Modi referred to the success of Chandrayaan-3, the Chenab railway bridge, expansion of solar energy capacity, infrastructure development and the Ujjwala scheme.
These accomplishments demonstrate India’s growing capabilities and the confidence that the country can achieve ambitious goals, he said.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister J.P. Nadda were among those present at the event.
