Union Budget 2025: FM Sitharaman Invokes Tamil Poet Gurujada Apparao’s ‘Desamante Manushuloyi’ In Speech

Last Updated: February 01, 2025, 12:09 IST

FM Nirmala Sitharaman Quotes: In her budget plan speeches, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is recognized to point out quotes from popular theorists, thinkers and poets to sustain the plans taken on

Key Quotes Nirmala Sitharaman: Union Finance Minister, that is recognized to conjure up thoughtful quotes from poets and theorists to highlight the adjustments presented in the Union Budget, has once more instilled quote of Telugu poet and dramatist Gurujada Apparao in her 2025 Budget speech on Saturday.

The money preacher began her Budget speech with Apparao’s quote “Desamante matti kaadoyi, desamante manushuloyi” (Country is not just the mud and soil, Country means people) which she chose from his timeless Telugu rhyme, ‘Desamunu Preminchumanna’.

< period data-preserver-spaces=" real">Gurujada Apparao was a poet, writer, social reformist and feminist who openly spoke about discrimination against women.

The finance minister has a history of adding cultural references to these speeches which project the government’s vision and present the fiscal policies which will be adopted in the coming fiscal year.

Here’s a recap of the quotes and phrases used by the finance minister in her last budget speeches.

A Throwback At FM Sitharaman’s Legacy Of Quotes

Chanakya Niti In 2019

The finance minister presented her first Budget in 2019 in which she quoted the Chanakya Niti, which is classical Tamil literature’s Sangam-era piece.

“Karya purusha karena lakshyam sampadyate (With determined human efforts, the task will surely be completed),” the money preacher priced estimate from the Chanakya Niti.

Sitharaman additionally made use of Urdu poet Manzoor Hashmi’s couplet.

“Yaqin ho to koi rasta nikalta hai

hawa ki ot bhi le kar chirag jalta hai“

(You can find a way if you believe in yourself, just as an earthen lamp can also lighten up despite the air blowing around.)

Lastly, she quoted Swami Vivekananda to emphasise the significance of women’s empowerment.

“There is no chance of the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing.“

Sitharaman Invokes Kashmiri Poet In 2020

After the abrogation of Article 370, the money preacher conjured up Kashmiri poet Pandit Dina Nath Kaul in her Budget speech in 2020.

“Hamara vatan, khilte tone Shalimar Bagh jaisa

Hamara vatan, Dal jheel major khilte tone kamal jaisa

Nau- jawanon ke garam khoon jaisa

Mera vatan, tera vata, hamara vatan

Duniya ka sabse pyaara vatan.”

(Translation: Our country is like a blooming Shalimar Bagh, like the lotus in Dal Lake, and like the fiery blood of our youth.)

The finance minister also quoted poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, when speaking about the five “jewels” required for a “excellent nation”.

“Piniyinmai Selvam Vilaivinpam Emam Aniyenpa Naattiv Vaindhu.“

(The nation’s 5 gems are: without epidemic or disease, wide range, ranch, performance or plant, joy and excellent protection).

FM Remembers Tagore Amid Pandemic In 2021

In the wake of the Covid -19 pandemic in 2021, Finance Minister Sitharaman changed to Rabindranath Tagore in her budget plan speech.

“Faith is the bird that really feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.“

FM Invokes Mahabharat In 2022

The budget speech of 2022 did not see mention of any poetry but the Hindu epic ‘Mahabharat’ over the issue of tax collections.

The finance minister, while quoting Mahabharata’s ‘Shanti Parva’ said, “The King must make arrangements for yogakshema, which means the welfare of the populace, by way of abandoning any laxity and governing the state in line with Dharma, along with collecting taxes which are in consonance with the Dharma.“

However, after 2022, the budget plan speeches of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman continued to be without any kind of verse or quotes from theorists and thinkers.