<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday followed the footsteps of BJP patriarch and former premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee in addressing the UN General Assembly in Hindi.<br /><br />Modi, who has been holding diplomatic conversations in Hindi after becoming prime minister four months ago, spoke in Hindi during his 35-minute maiden address at the UNGA.<br /><br />Vajpayee, who was prime minister from 1998 to 2004, was the first Indian premier to speak in Hindi at the UNGA’s Millennium Summit.</p>.<p><br />As foreign minister in the Janata party government, Vajpayee had addressed a UNGA session in 1977 in Hindi.<br /><br />Hindi is not among the official languages of the UN.<br />Earlier this month, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing a function in New Delhi on the occasion of Hindi Divas, had said Vajpayee was the first prime minister to deliver his speech at the UN in Hindi.<br /><br />During his address, Modi spoke about Indian culture and ethos.<br /><br />“It is a truly a great honour to address you for the first time as the prime minister of India. I stand here conscious of the hopes and expectations of the people of India,” he said.<br /><br />Talking about India, he said, “India is a country that constitutes one-sixth of humanity; a nation experiencing economic and social transformation on a scale rarely seen in history.<br /><br />“Every nation’s world view is shaped by its civilisation and philosophical tradition. India’s ancient wisdom sees the world as one family,” he said.<br /></p>
<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday followed the footsteps of BJP patriarch and former premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee in addressing the UN General Assembly in Hindi.<br /><br />Modi, who has been holding diplomatic conversations in Hindi after becoming prime minister four months ago, spoke in Hindi during his 35-minute maiden address at the UNGA.<br /><br />Vajpayee, who was prime minister from 1998 to 2004, was the first Indian premier to speak in Hindi at the UNGA’s Millennium Summit.</p>.<p><br />As foreign minister in the Janata party government, Vajpayee had addressed a UNGA session in 1977 in Hindi.<br /><br />Hindi is not among the official languages of the UN.<br />Earlier this month, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing a function in New Delhi on the occasion of Hindi Divas, had said Vajpayee was the first prime minister to deliver his speech at the UN in Hindi.<br /><br />During his address, Modi spoke about Indian culture and ethos.<br /><br />“It is a truly a great honour to address you for the first time as the prime minister of India. I stand here conscious of the hopes and expectations of the people of India,” he said.<br /><br />Talking about India, he said, “India is a country that constitutes one-sixth of humanity; a nation experiencing economic and social transformation on a scale rarely seen in history.<br /><br />“Every nation’s world view is shaped by its civilisation and philosophical tradition. India’s ancient wisdom sees the world as one family,” he said.<br /></p>