![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Modi-at-malvel-Stadium-1.png\")
Friends forever: Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi walk the red carpet (Source: Supplied) PM Modi in Melbourne<\/p>\n
Before him, Vic Premier Jacinta Allan welcomed Mr Modi to Australia\u2019s \u201cmulticultural state, and education state.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The biggest ovations were reserved for words of appreciation directed at the Indian Australian community. Jacinta Allan told the audience, \u201cWe value your people, your students, businesses, families and ideas\u2026 To Victoria\u2019s strong Indian community, I say: you are welcome here.\u201d Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was met with similar applause when he added, \u201cYour commitment to Australia has made it stronger\u2026 we\u2019re a better nation because of it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was wonderful to hear\u00a0Mr Modi\u2019s\u00a0Acknowledgement of\u00a0Country,\u00a0at a time when this gesture is coming under scrutiny.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOn my third visit to Australia,\u201d he said,\u00a0\u201cI wanted to meet you this time in\u00a0Melb\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and\u00a0share a flat white.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It seems the Indian PM had also got the Melbourne memo, seen in previous photo ops donning the city\u2019s uniform of a black puffer jacket.<\/p>\n
Referring to\u00a0Mr Albanese\u00a0as\u00a0\u201cBharat\u00a0ke\u00a0mitr\u201d (friend of India),\u00a0Modiji\u00a0brought on a phone salute for him.\u00a0\u201cWhen he speaks to Indian-origin Australians here \u2013\u00a0chha\u00a0jaate\u00a0hain\u00a0(wins the crowd over)\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yet\u00a0perhaps it\u00a0was his observation about our lives here that resonated most: that many in the diaspora live in two worlds at once. \u201cYou live Australian lives \u2013\u00a0yahaan ki development mein jute hue hain,\u00a0but\u00a0bheetar\u00a0ki\u00a0Bharatiyata\u00a0sahi\u00a0salaamat\u00a0hai.\u201d You are helping build Australia, while your Indianness\u00a0remains\u00a0undiminished.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Modi-at-malvel-Stadium-3.png\")
PM Modi delivering his much-awaited speech (Source: Supplied) PM Modi in Melbourne<\/p>\n
It is the same dual identity that some dismiss as a failure to assimilate, and others hail as Australia\u2019s greatest multicultural strength \u2013 a \u2018living bridge\u2019 between nations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u00a0gave Mr Modi some choice words\u00a0to bring on\u00a0the cheers.\u00a0\u201cDoodh\u00a0Australia ka\u00a0hai, par chai\u2026 India ki,\u201d\u00a0he quipped, speaking, as he reminded the audience, as a self-described\u00a0chaiwalla.\u00a0The milk may be Australian, but the\u00a0chai\u00a0is Indian.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Winning over the audience early on, Mr Modi moved to brass tacks, outlining what he described as India\u2019s rapid transformation under his leadership: from the Moon mission to ambitions for an Indian space station; from 5G to work on 6G; from Operation\u00a0Sindoor\u00a0to enhanced defence capability; from a trade agreement with one nation to negotiations with 40 others; from hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games to bidding for the 2036 Olympics. He pointed to new manufacturing ecosystems, advances in metro rail,\u00a0automobiles\u00a0and pharmaceuticals, 200,000 registered start-ups, and the adoption of digital public infrastructure at a scale running into the billions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGarv\u00a0hua\u00a0ke\u00a0nahin?\u201d\u00a0Are you not proud?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Modiji introduced\u00a0his new mantra \u2018Grow more, achieve more\u2019,\u00a0repeating it\u00a0so\u00a0frequently\u00a0\u2013 even asking the audience to chant it back to him\u00a0\u2013 that the slogan did\u00a0exactly what it was meant to do: stick.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI liked that Modi was very interactive; people were involved,\u201d said attendee Sharmila.<\/p>\n
The cricket references were never far away. Both prime ministers harked back to their much-publicised lap of honour in a chariot at Ahmedabad\u2019s Narendra Modi Stadium -where a somewhat awkward Mr Albanese rode alongside a beaming Mr Modi \u2013 while the Indian Prime Minister described this visit as his \u201chat-trick\u201d and urged the diaspora to \u201chit fours and sixes\u201d in service of their adopted country.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a\u00a0diaspora\u00a0speech,\u00a0Mr Modi\u2019s address\u00a0was\u00a0rather predictable, a blend of emotion and aspiration.\u00a0Add a touch of local flavour (although we expected more Melbourne\u00a0references\u00a0\u2013\u00a0remember\u00a0Chatkazz\u00a0and Jaipur Sweets from Sydney?),\u00a0call-and-response chants,\u00a0end\u00a0on a patriotic note\u00a0with chants of\u00a0Bharat Mata ki Jai\u00a0or\u00a0Vande\u00a0Mataram.\u00a0In other words, part homecoming, part progress report, part campaign rally, and part call to action.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What was missing this time round, was\u00a0the announcement of a \u2018gift\u2019 to the people: 2014 saw the announcement of the\u00a0cultural centre at the Sydney Consulate, and 2023 the launch of the Brisbane Consulate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perhaps absent this time also, was the crackling energy that characterised Mr Modi\u2019s 2014 and 2023 appearances, replaced by Melbourne\u2019s signature coolness. Even the audience appeared more subdued.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Modi-at-malvel-Stadium-4.png\")
Despite the chill, the Indian Diaspora showed up (Source: Supplied) PM Modi in Melbourne<\/p>\n
Though the weather and V-Line disruptions earlier in the day did leave a few empty seats, a steady trickle of punters could be seen arriving from 3pm to enjoy the various cultural performances curated by organisers Australia India Foundation. A rendition of the classic \u2018Mile Sur Mera\u00a0Tumhara\u2019 was particularly well enjoyed, a heartening nod for secularism.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before the formal events began the Australia India Foundation put up a spectacular cultural show of dances from across India.\u00a0\u201cThe energy from the audience was incredible; being up there was such a powerful and patriotic feeling,\u201d MC Rhea Verma told\u00a0Indian Link\u00a0later.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
A rendition of the classic \u2018Mile Sur Mera\u00a0Tumhara\u2019 was particularly well enjoyed, a heartening nod for secularism.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The lull that\u00a0followed after\u00a0the performances\u00a0ended, while the dignitaries were awaited, was palpable. (\u201cShow us the cultural show,\u201d commenters expressed on Indian Link\u2019s YouTube broadcast).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, kudos to the Foundation for delivering a mega event where\u00a0attendees were ushered in with minimal fuss, backed by enhanced security \u2013\u00a0including a tightly guarded police perimeter \u2013 and\u00a0fastidious ticket checking ushers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Modi-at-malvel-Stadium-6.png\")
Protestors outside the stadium (Souce: Supplied) PM Modi in Melbourne<\/p>\n
Perhaps the\u00a0greatest\u00a0indication\u00a0that this was something political came from the three different protest groups outside, Aus Pill, Sikhs for Justice and Alliance Against Islamophobia decrying everything from human rights abuses to migration itself, but\u00a0seemingly to\u00a0little impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way I see it, there were\u00a0over 20,000 supporters, and only 30 protesters, so it didn\u2019t really affect me; nobody can be liked by all,\u201d said attendee\u00a0Sankith.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Equally, a boosted police presence ensured they were kept at bay, with added private security inside the stadium and fastidious ticket checking ushers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Mr Modi had spoken of a diaspora living two lives at once, the final chant captured it perfectly. Borrowing Australia\u2019s most recognisable sporting refrain, the\u00a0chant went up: \u201cModi! Modi! Modi! Oi! Oi! Oi!\u201d<\/p>\n
This article is jointly written by Rajni Anand Luthra and Lakshmi Ganapathy.<\/p>\n