Sometime in the future ,you might have to make a speech where your central theme is not only to explain, but also motivate and persuade your audience of the importance of working together.
The Collaboration speech
( working with, joining forces, teaming up, working in partnership , pooling resources,
acting as a team, cooperating with each other )
For example it might be the importance of one company collaborating with another, maybe a supplier with a distributor, franchiser and franchisee , HQ with regional sites, the Board of Directors with Stakeholders or simply the cooperation of a Supplier with a Buyer. It could be the Marketing team with the Sales team !!!
In effect 'Collaboration' was the central theme of India's Prime Minister Modi's address to UK Parliament last week . One important business aspect of his visit concerned the £9 billion of trade deals between India and the UK. This was as much a business speech as a diplomatic address.
It is a well crafted political speech but I thought it would be worth analysing from the skills of rhetoric Mr Modi undoubtedly has to teach us all about speech making and delivery. Later in his visit Mr Modi spoke to a crowd of 60,000 at Wembley Stadium. No politicians in the UK pull in such crowds. Mr Cameron now has attained this by introducing Mr Modi at Wembley.
I have added some observations of technique Mr Modi and his speech writers use in their speech to the UK Parliament I hope you find it interesting and can get to use some of Mr Modi's techniques for your speeches.
N.B. This is an analysis of rhetoric rather than politics.
Lord Speaker, ( of the House of Lords)
Mr. Speaker, (of the House of Commons)
Mr. Prime Minister ( Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland)
I am delighted to be in London. Even in this globalised
world, London is still the standard for our times. ( light touch pun : Longitude Meridian / Greenwich Mean Time GMT and standard for diversity) The city has embraced
the world's diversity and represents the finest in human achievements. And, I
am truly honoured to speak in the British Parliament.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for opening the doors to us ( both in the literal and spoken sense ), here in
this magnificent setting of the Royal Court. ( Westminster is a Royal Court) I know that the
Parliament is not in Session. Prime Minister Cameron looks relaxed and
relieved. ( Light touch of
humour)
But, I want to remind you, Mr. Prime Minister, that you owe
me royalty for an election slogan. I know that you are hosting me at the
Chequers this evening. But, I also know that you will understand if I am fair
to both sides of the floor. Especially since British MPs of Indian Origin are
evenly balanced between the Treasury and the Opposition benches ( Factual Attention Getter
maintaining interest). So, I also extend my good wishes to the Labour ( Party – Her Majesty’s Opposition
acknowledged also). Indeed, since these are still early days after the
election, my warm congratulations to the Members of the House. And, greetings
to the eminent leaders of Britain and great friends of India present here
today.
So much of the modern history of India is linked to this
building. So much history looms across our relationship. There are others who
have spoken forcefully on the debts and dues of history. I will only say that
many freedom fighters of India found their calling in the institutions of
Britain. And, many makers of modern India, including several of my
distinguished predecessors, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Dr. Manmohan Singh, passed
through their doors. ( Examples
of India’s Good and Great who had been in Parliament)
There are many things on which it is hard to tell anymore if
they are British or Indian: The Jaguar or the Scotland Yard, for example. The
Brooke Bond tea or my friend late Lord Ghulam Nun's curry. And, our strongest
debates are whether the Lord's pitch swings unfairly or the wicket at Eden
Gardens cracks too early. And, we love the Bhangra rap from London just as you
like the English novel from India. ( Pairings of examples keep the interest and prove his point of how
things are not obviously British or Indian)
On the way to this event, Prime Minister Cameron and I paid
homage to Mahatma Gandhi outside the Parliament. ( Use of the link back attention getter)I was reminded of a
question I was asked on a tour abroad. How is it that the statue of Gandhi
stands outside the British Parliament? To that question, my answer is: (Patterns of threes) (1)The British are wise
enough to recognise his greatness;(2)Indians are generous enough to share him; (3)we are both fortunate
enough to have been touched by his life and mission; and, we are both smart
enough to use the strengths of our connected histories to power the future of
our relationship.
So, I stand here today, not as a visiting Head of
Government, given the honour to speak in this temple of democracy. I am here as
a representative of a fellow institution and a shared tradition. ( Mr Modi is fond of this device. He disclaims a preconception which is actually true. For example he is a visiting Head of Government given the honour - so that contradiction draws in our attention .Then he subtly shows his audience he is one of them. a representative from a similar institution and tradition. I notice from other speeches at Wembley and elsewhere Prime Minister Modi uses this technique which I will nickname the "Modi Manoeuvre" .It has a touch of Mark Anthony in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. “ In the famous " (1)Friends, (2)Romans , (3) Countrymen" speech where Mark Anthony ends up sowing the seeds of doubt on Brutus and
actually praising Caesar. -----Cunning these politicians !!!)
And, tomorrow, Prime Minister and I will be at the Wembley.
Even in India, every young footballer wants to bend it like Beckham. ( familiar film directed by Gurinder
Chadha and now a musical currently playing at London's Phoenix Theatre and using the Brand Beckham Name !! brilliant use of shared cultures and linked to current show . This illustrate how keyed into London Mr Modi is.) Wembley will
be a celebration of one-half-million threads of life that bind us; one and half
million people - proud of their heritage in India; proud of their home in
Britain. ( repeated pairing proud of... proud of)
It will be an expression of joy for all that we share:
values, institutions, political system, sports, culture and art. And, it will
be a recognition of our vibrant partnerships and a shared
future.
(Then a
set of powerful factual statements)
The United Kingdom is the third largest investor in India
behind Singapore and Mauritius. India is the third largest source of Foreign Direct Investment projects in the
United Kingdom. Indians invest more in Britain than in the rest of
European Union combined. It is not because they want to save on
interpretation costs, but because they find an environment that is welcoming
and familiar. ( Another example of a Modi Manoeuvre that Mr Modi favours. He states first
what is a rational fact but says it is not the main reason , followed by an
additional cultural /emotional reason. Mark Anthony eat your heart out again !)
It takes an Indian icon, Tata, to run a British icon and
become your nation's largest private sector employer. ( Powerful fact)
The UK remains a preferred destination for Indian students.
And, I am pleased that an Indian company is taking a thousand British students
to India to skill them in Information Technology. ( Two exchange)
(Another pattern of threes)
(1)We are working together in the
most advanced areas of science and technology. We are finding solutions to the
enduring human problems of food and health security, and seeking answers to
emerging challenges like climate change.
(2)Our
security agencies work together so that our children return home safe and our
increasingly networked lives are not prey to the threats on cyber space.
(3) Our
Armed
Forces exercise with each other, so that they can stand more strongly
for the values we represent. This year alone, we have had three exercises
together. ( Fact)
And, in the international arena, your support has made it
more possible for India to take her rightful place in global institutions and
regimes. And, it has helped us both advance our common interests.
Mr. Speaker,
( Pattern
of threes e.g. two...two....two...)
Strong as our partnership is, for a relationship such as
ours, we must set higher ambitions. (1)We are two
democracies;(2) two
strong economies; (3)
and, two
innovative societies.
We have the comfort of familiarity and the experience of a
long partnership. Britain's resurgence is impressive. Its influence on the
future of the global economy remains strong.
And, Mr. Speaker, India is new bright spot of hope and
opportunity for the world. It is not just the universal judgement of
international institutions. It is not just the logic of numbers: a nation of
1.25 billion people with 800 million under the age of 35 years. ( Facts
Facts Facts in a pattern of threes)
This optimism comes from the energy and enterprise of our
youth; eager for change and confident of achieving it. It is the result of bold
and sustained measures to reform our laws, policies, institutions and
processes.
( action
verbs e.g. igniting ...making...making... moving...creating....building)
We are igniting the engines of our manufacturing sector;
making our farms more productive and more resilient; making our services more
innovative and efficient; moving with urgency on building global skills for our
youth; creating a revolution in Start up enterprises; and, building the next generation
infrastructure that will have a light footprint on the Earth.
Our momentum comes not just from the growth we pursue, but
from the transformation that we seek in the quality of life for every citizen.
Much of India that we dream of still lies ahead of us:
housing, power, water and sanitation for all; bank accounts and insurance for
every citizen; connected and prosperous villages; and, smart and sustainable
cities. These are goals with a definite date, not just a mirage of hope. (“... goals with a definite date
not just a mirage of hope” that would be a useful phrase
for the Corporate world to make . Will they attribute that to Mr Modi I wonder
!)
And, inspired by Gandhiji, the change has begun with us -
the way the government works. There is transparency and accountability in
governance. There is boldness and speed in decisions.
Federalism is no longer the fault line of Centre-State
relations, but the definition of a new partnership of Team India. Citizens now
have the ease of trust, not the burden of proof and process. Businesses find an
environment that is open and easy to work in.
In a nation connected by cell phones, Digital India is transforming the interface between Government and
people.
So, Mr. Speaker, with apologies to poet T.S. Eliot, we won't
let the shadow fall between the idea and reality. ( Mr Modi quotes TS Elliot “Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow” TS Elliott The Hollow Men )
If you visit India, you will experience the wind of change. ( Clever resonance for Conservative
Politicians – Harold Macmillian’s wind of change speech “The wind of change is blowing through this
continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is
a political fact” and a gentle reminder o India’s independence )
(Evidence
for this wind of change we would see if we visited India today. Verbs of change
Reflected.... Enhanced then in a pattern of three facts)
It is reflected in the surge of investments from around the
world; in enhanced stability of our economy; (1) in
190 million new bank accounts of hope and inclusion; in (2)the increase in our
growth to nearly 7.5% per year; and, (3) in the sharp rise
in our ranking on Ease of Doing Business.
And, the motto of Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas ( My Google translate of the Hindi reads Everybody's company will help
in everybody's growth with another pattern of threes !), is our
vision of a nation, in which every citizen (1.) belongs, (2) participates and (3) prospers.
( and yet
again a pattern of threes)
It is not just a call for economic inclusion. It is also (1) a celebration of our
diversity; (2) the
creed for social harmony; and,(3)
a commitment to individual liberties and rights.
This is (1)
the timeless ethos of our culture; this is (2) the basis of our constitution; and, this (3) will be the foundation
of our future.
Mr. Speaker, Members and Friends, (Rhythm of threes)
The progress of India is the destiny of one-sixth of
humanity. And, it will also mean a world
more confident of its prosperity; and, more secure about its future.
It is also natural and inevitable that our economic
relations will grow by leaps and bounds. We will form unbeatable partnerships,
if we combine our unique strengths and the size and scale of opportunities in
India.
(Pattern of threes with a one more
for luck – the exception to prove the rule )
(1) We will see more investment and trade. (2)We will open
new doors in the Services sector. (3) We will collaborate more - here and in
India - in defence equipment and technology. We will work together on renewable
and nuclear energy.
(Here Mr Modi uses the three rhythm
pattern to stress the young nation we will...we will.. Our youth will...)
We will explore the mysteries of science and harness the
power of technology and innovation. We will realise the opportunities of the
digital world. Our youth will learn more from - and with - each other.
But, a relationship as rich as this, with so much promise as
ours, cannot be measured only in terms of our mutual prosperity.
Mr. Speaker,
Ours is an age of multiple transitions in the world. We are
yet to fully comprehend the future unfolding before us. As in the previous
ages, it will be different from the world we know.
So, in the uncharted waters of our uncertain times, we must
together help steer a steady course for this world in the direction that
mirrors the ideals we share. (
metaphor of uncharted waters and and steering)
For, in that lies not just the success of our two nations,
but also the promise of the world that we desire. We have the strength of our
partnership and the membership of the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the
G-20.
We live in a world where instability in a distant region
quickly reaches our doorsteps. We see this in the challenges of radicalisation
and refugees. ( Alliteration
pairing rradicalisation and refugees)
The fault lines are shifting from the boundaries of nations
into the web of our societies and the streets of our cities. And, terrorism and
extremism are a global force that are larger than their changing names, groups,
territories and targets. ( The new world order)
The world must speak in one voice and act in unison to
combat this challenge of our times. We must adopt a Comprehensive Convention on
International Terrorism in the UN without delay. There should be no distinction
between terrorist groups or discrimination between nations. There should be a
resolve to isolate those who harbour terrorists and willingness to stand with
nations that will fight them honestly. And, we need a social movement against
extremism in countries where it is most prevalent and, every effort to de=link
religion and terrorism.
( Ocean Cyber space and outer space)
Oceans remain vital for our prosperity. Now, we have to also
secure our cyber and outer space. Our interests are aligned across many
regions. We have a shared interest in stable, prosperous and integrated South
Asia, drawn together in a shared march to prosperity.
We want an Afghanistan that is shaped by the dreams of the
great Afghan people, not by irrational fears and overreaching ambitions of
others.
A peaceful, stable Indian Ocean Region is vital for global
commerce and prosperity. And, the future of Asia Pacific region will have
profound impact on all of us. We both have huge stakes in West Asia and the
Gulf.
And, in Africa, where, amidst many challenges, we see so
many promising signs of courage, wisdom, leadership and enterprise. India has
just held an Africa Summit, in which all 55 countries, and 42 leaders
participated. ( Example Facts)
We must also cooperate to launch a low carbon age for a
sustainable future for our planet. This is a global responsibility that we must
assume in Paris later this month. (presaging a future meeting)
The world has crafted a beautiful balance of collective
action - common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities.
Those who have the means and the know-how must help meet the
universal aspiration of humanity for clean energy and a healthy environment.
And, when we speak of restraint, we must not only think of curbing fossil
fuels, but also moderating our lifestyles.
(Declared targets and strategy)
We must all do our part. For India, a target of 175 GW of
additional capacity in renewable energy by 2022 and reduction in emission
intensity of 33-35 % by 2030 are just two of the steps of a comprehensive
strategy.
I have also proposed to launch during the COP 21 meeting an
International Solar Alliance to make solar energy an integral part of our
lives, even in the most unconnected villages.
( local experience UK audience -we use umbrella for rain - India a parasol then modern example – Solar Alliance
)
In Britain, you are more likely to use an umbrella against
rain than the sun. But, my team defined the membership of the Solar Alliance in
more precise terms: you have to be located within the Tropics.
And, we are pleased that the United Kingdom qualifies! (
Joke ) So, we look forward to an innovative Britain as a valuable partner in
this endeavour. Prime Minister Cameron and I are, indeed, very pleased that
cooperation on affordable and accessible clean energy is an important pillar of
our relations.
Mr. Speaker,
(Action verbs seize...remove...instil... remain...)
This is a huge moment for our two great nations. So, we must
seize our opportunities, remove the obstacles to cooperation, instill full
confidence in our relations and remain sensitive to each other's interests.
In doing so, we will transform our strategic partnership,
and we will make this relationship count as one of the leading global
partnerships. Ever so often, in the call of Britain's most famous Bard that we
must seize the tide in the affairs of men, the world has sought the inspiration
to act. And, so must we. ( Bard
– another word for Poet/Playright in this case William Shakespeare. “Julius
Caesar “Act 4, scene 3
Brutus:
There is a tide in
the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads
on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their
life
Is bound in shallows and in
miseries , I think Julius Caesar as aplay may be a favourite of Prime Minister Modi)
(He then leads into his conclusion)
But, in defining the purpose of our partnership, we must
turn to a great son of India, whose house in London I shall dedicate to the
cause of social justice on Saturday .(10 King Henry's Road in Primrose Hill North London Where
Ambedkar lived in 1921-22 as a student of the LSE ). Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, whose 125th birth anniversary we are celebrating now, was
not just an architect of India's Constitution and our parliamentary democracy. He also stood for the upliftment (uplifting) of
(1) the weak, (2) the oppressed and (3) the
excluded. And, he lifted us all to a higher cause in the service of humanity;
to build a future of justice, equality, opportunity and dignity for all humans;
and, peace among people.
That is the cause to which India and the United Kingdom have
dedicated themselves today.
