PM Modi pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on 80th Independence Day
Synopsis
For the first time since Independence, 'Vande Mataram' echoed from the Red Fort on 15 August — a milestone Modi called 'historic' as India marked its 80th Independence Day. The Prime Minister's morning tribute at Rajghat and his subsequent flag-hoisting address together framed a day that blended Gandhian symbolism with a forward-looking pledge to make every Indian's progress the government's central mission.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on 15 August 2025 , India's 80th Independence Day .
Modi shared a post on X pledging to 'keep working for the progress of every Indian and making our nation progressive as well as prosperous.' 'Vande Mataram' was heard from the Red Fort on Independence Day for the first time since 1947 , marking 150 years of the national song.
The National Flag was hoisted at the Red Fort to a 21-gun salute , followed by a ceremonial helicopter flower shower.
Modi's Red Fort address paid tribute to freedom fighters and invoked the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' movement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2025 paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi, reaffirming his government's commitment to the progress and prosperity of every Indian as the country marked its 80th Independence Day. Following his visit to the memorial, Modi shared a post on X outlining the guiding principles his administration intends to uphold.
'This morning, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. We will always continue to draw inspiration from his vision and work. We will keep working for the progress of every Indian and making our nation progressive as well as prosperous,' Modi wrote.
Tribute at Rajghat
The Prime Minister's visit to Rajghat — the memorial dedicated to the Father of the Nation — marked the ceremonial start of Independence Day proceedings. The tribute preceded his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, where he hoisted the National Flag to a 21-gun salute. A ceremonial showering of flowers from a helicopter also formed part of the official celebrations.
Red Fort Address and Vande Mataram Milestone
Opening his address, Modi invoked the national song 'Vande Mataram' and paid tribute to freedom fighters who gave their lives for India's independence.
'Today, every heartbeat is echoing with Vande Mataram; today, there is Har Ghar Tiranga. My best wishes to all of you on Independence Day. The nation today remembers those great sons who sacrificed for independence, carrying only one aim, freedom, and dedicating their lives to it. I pay my heartfelt tribute to Pujya Bapu and every other freedom fighter,' he said.
Modi also highlighted a historic first: 'Vande Mataram' echoing from the Red Fort on 15 August for the first time since Independence, coinciding with the commemoration of 150 years of the national song.
'It is a historic day today. After Independence, on August 15, for the first time, Vande Mataram is echoing from the Red Fort. As we celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram today, no other day could be more appropriate for this,' he said.
Significance of the 80th Independence Day
The 80th Independence Day carries particular symbolic weight as India moves deeper into what the government has framed as 'Viksit Bharat' — a developed India by 2047. The convergence of the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram with the Independence Day address added a cultural and historical dimension to this year's celebrations that officials described as unprecedented.
Notably, Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence and inclusive progress remains a recurring touchstone for leaders across the political spectrum on this day, though the specific policy commitments that follow such tributes will be watched closely in the months ahead.
What Comes Next
The Independence Day address traditionally sets the tone for the government's policy agenda in the coming year. Announcements made from the Red Fort by Modi are expected to be followed by detailed sectoral guidelines and budgetary allocations in the months ahead, as his administration enters a critical phase of its third term.
Point of View
Yet the downstream policy record on Gandhian priorities — rural welfare, decentralisation, communal harmony — remains contested. The 80th Independence Day is also a midpoint marker toward the government's 2047 'Viksit Bharat' target; the distance between Red Fort rhetoric and measurable outcomes on that count will define the legacy of this term far more than any single ceremonial first.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did PM Modi pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Independence Day 2025?
PM Modi paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi on 15 August 2025, before proceeding to hoist the National Flag at the Red Fort for his Independence Day address.
What did PM Modi say in his post on X after visiting Rajghat?
Modi wrote that he had paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and pledged that his government would 'always continue to draw inspiration from his vision and work' and 'keep working for the progress of every Indian and making our nation progressive as well as prosperous.'
Why was 'Vande Mataram' at the Red Fort described as historic in 2025?
According to Modi, 15 August 2025 marked the first time since Independence that 'Vande Mataram' echoed from the Red Fort on Independence Day. The occasion also coincided with the 150th anniversary of the national song, which Modi called uniquely appropriate.
What is the significance of India's 80th Independence Day?
The 80th Independence Day is a symbolic milestone as India advances toward its government-stated goal of becoming a developed nation — 'Viksit Bharat' — by 2047. It also marked the convergence of the 150th anniversary of 'Vande Mataram' with the national celebration.
What ceremonies took place at the Red Fort on 15 August 2025?
PM Modi hoisted the National Flag at the Red Fort to a 21-gun salute. A ceremonial showering of flowers from a helicopter also took place as part of the Independence Day celebrations.
