Voices That Inspire: Ted Talks and Famous Speeches

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References:

 Speeches that have withstood the Test of Time

• Abraham Lincoln

• Swami Vivekananda

• Winston Churchill

• Mahatma Gandhi

• Pt  Jawaharlal Nehru

• Martin Luther King Jr

• Nelson Mandela

• Steve Jobs

• Bill Gates

• J.K Rowling

• Barack H Obama

• Malala Yousafzai

• Emma Watson

• Leonardo Di Caprio

• Mark Zuckerberg

Abraham Lincoln 

(12 February, 1809 - 15 April, 1865)

16th President of the United States 

On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered remarks, which later became known as the Gettysburg Address, at the official dedication ceremony for the National Cemetery of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, on the site of one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of the Civil War. Though he was not the featured orator that day, Lincoln’s brief address would be remembered as one of the most important speeches in American history. In it, he invoked the principles of human equality contained in the Declaration of Independence and connected the sacrifices of the Civil War with the desire for “a new birth of freedom,” as well as the all-important preservation of the Union created in 1776 and its ideal of self-government. 

Swami Vivekananda, original name Narendranath Datta 

(12 January, 1863 - 4 July, 1902)

Hindu spiritual leader and reformer in India who attempted to combine Indian spiritually with Western material progress, maintaining that the two supplemented and complemented one another. 

Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk and one of the most celebrated spiritual leaders of India. He was more than just a spiritual mind; he was a prolific thinker, great orator and passionate patriot. He carried on the free-thinking philosophy of his guru, Ramakrishna Paramhansa forward into a new paradigm. He worked tirelessly towards betterment of the society, in servitude of the poor and needy, dedicating his all for his country. He was responsible for the revival of Hindu spiritualism and established Hinduism as a revered religion on world stage. His message of universal brotherhood and self-awakening remains relevant especially in the current backdrop of widespread political turmoil around the world. The young monk and his teachings have been an inspiration to many, and his words have become goals of self-improvement especially for the youth of the country. For this very reason, his birthday, January 12, is celebrated as the National Youth Day in India. 

During the course of his wanderings, he came to know about the World Parliament of Religions being held in Chicago, America in 1893. He was keen to attend the meeting, to represent India, Hinduism and his Guru Sri Ramakrishna’s philosophies. On 11 September 1893, when the time came, he took the stage and stunned everyone with his opening line “My brothers and sisters of America”. He received a standing ovation from the audience for the opening phrase. He went on to describe the principles of Vedanta and their spiritual significance, putting Hinduism on the map of World Religions.  

Winston Churchill -   in full Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill             

(30 November,1874- 24  January, 1965)

Prime minister of United Kingdom

In his first speech to the House of Commons after having been offered the King's commission to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Winston Churchill famously proclaimed: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. 

Churchill words..... That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word:  Victory-  Victory at all costs—Victory in spite of all terror—Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival. This speech was delivered on 13 May 1940.

We Shall Fight on the Beaches" or "We Shall Never Surrender" is a famous historic speech delivered by Winston Churchill to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom on June 4, 1940. Churchill reflected on the disaster in France and rallied the British nation with his unshaken determination: We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender! 

Mahatma Gandhi - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi,

(2 October,1869 -  30 January,1948),

Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India . 

The Father of Nation. Gandhiji was a social reformist and leader of Indian Independence Movement who introduced the idea of non-violent resistance called Satyagrah.  He organized the Dandi Salt March in 1930 and Quit India Movement in 1942. 

 Quit India Movement, also known as the “Bharat Chodo Andolan”, was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942. The movement was a mass movement was launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). Gandhiji gave the clarion call of ‘Do or Die’ to the countrymen for a decisive fight against the British rule.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru 

(14 November,1889- 27 May, 1964

First Prime Minister of independent India (1947–64) 

In 15 August 1947, Nehru became the first prime minister of independent India. He held the post until his death in 1964. He implemented moderate socialist economic reforms and committed India to a policy of industrialization.  

Tryst with Destiny: “Tryst with Destiny” was the title of the speech given at the midnight of 15th August 1947 by the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru just after the independence of country. He had given speech to the Indian Constituent Assembly in The Parliament in the midnight. The speech given by him is one of the greatest speeches of all times focusing on the history of India and non-violent Indian independence struggle for getting freedom from the British Empire in India. On the eve of 15th August 1947, the first Prime Minister of India, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, gave a famous speech addressed to the Indian Constituent Assembly and the pupils of the country. The speech was delivered on the intervening night of 14th and 15th August 1947 and is by far the most impressive speech of the 20th century. 

 Martin Luther King Jr. -

(15 January,1929 - 4, April, 1968)

American religious leader and civil-rights activist

Baptist minister and social activist who led the civil rights movement in the United States  from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. His leadership was fundamental to that movement’s success in ending the legal segregation of African Americans  in the South and other parts of the United States.. He was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1964. 

I Have a Dream, speech by Martin Luther King Jr, that was delivered on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington. A call for equality and freedom, it became one of the defining moments of the civil rights movement and one of the most iconic speeches in American History. Some 2,50,000 people gathered at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C for the March on Washington

Nelson Mandela, in full Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, 

(18 July,1918- 5 December, 2013) 

Black nationalist and the first Black president of  South Africa (1994–99) 

Africa's Greatest Freedom Symbol :  

"Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not allow fear to stand in our way.  - Nelson Mandela 

Son of a chief, Nelson Mandela studied law and became one of South Africa's first black lawyers. Early in the 1950s he was elected leader of the youth wing of the ANC (African National Congress) liberation movement. When the country's white minority government prohibited the ANC in 1960, Mandela became convinced that armed struggle was inevitable. Inspired by the guerrilla wars in Algeria and Cuba, he organized a military underground movement that engaged in sabotage. In 1962 he was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for high treason and conspiracy against the state.

From 1964 to 1982 he was confined to the prison island Robben Island, together with several other resistance leaders. He was then moved to prison on the mainland until his release in 1990. During his imprisonment, Mandela became a rallying point for South Africa's oppressed, and the world's most famous political prisoner.

Nelson Mandela shared the Peace Prize with the man who had released him, President Frederik Willem de Klerk, because they had agreed on a peaceful transition to majority rule.

Steve Jobs in full Steven Paul Jobs

(24 February, 1955 - 11 October 2011)

"You’ve got to find what you love" by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple on June 12, 2005. 

Steve Jobs was an American entrepreneur, computer designer and businessman. He cofounded the Apple company and oversaw the invention of the Apple, iMac and Macintosh computers as well as the iPod, iPhone and iPad. His vision of inexpensive computers designed for regular people helped launch the personal computing industry.

It’s commencement speech season in the United States, which means celebrity speakers searching for wisdom to impart to graduating students.

  Bill Gates in full William Henry Gates III

 (28 October, 1955 Washington, U.S)

 American computer programmer, businessman, and philanthropist

American computer programmer and entrepreneur who cofounded Microsoft Corporation, the world’s largest personal-computer software company. Gates wrote his first software program at the age of 13.In April 1975 was when the creation of Microsoft came to be. It all started when Gates and  Paul Allen ( his friend)  had inspiration to develop of BASIC (A programming language) for the Altair 8800 system. This was the first microcomputer. 

On the behalf of Microsoft’s success, Bill Gates became a millionaire at 23 years of age. To then becoming a billionaire at the age of 31. This made him the youngest billionaire at the time. Holding that record from 1987 up until 2010. 

Recently, as of July 2022, Gates has stated that he plans to give all his wealth to his own Foundation (The Gates Foundation). 

“As I look to the future, I plan to give virtually all of my wealth to the foundation. I will move down and eventually off of the list of the world’s richest people.” Bill Gates – Twitter, July 2022 

"I have an obligation to return my resources to society in ways that have the greatest impact for reducing suffering and improving lives. And I hope others in positions of great wealth and privilege will step up in this moment too.” Bill Gates – Twitter, July 2022 

J.K. Rowling 

(31 July 1965)

British Author

Joanne Rowling, known by her pen name J.K Rowling  is the British author who created the popular Harry Potter series (seven books published between 1997 and 2007), about a lonely orphan who discovers that he is actually a wizard and enrolls in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

J.K. Rowling was honored in Edinburgh, the place where she wrote Harry Potter. She's the favorite author. Rowling said about winning the award, "Edinburgh is very much home for me and is the place where Harry evolved over seven books and many, many hours of writing in its cafes. So much has happened to me both professionally and personally since I moved here nearly 15 years ago, that to receive this recognition is particularly meaningful and special." 

JK Rowling has been honored with Edinburgh's most prestigious civic award for her contribution to literature.

Barack Obama, his story is the American story  values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family, hard work and education as the means of getting ahead, and the conviction that a life so blessed should be lived in service to others. 

With a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, President Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He was raised with help from his grandfather, who served in Patton's army, and his grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management at a bank. 

He was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January 20, 2009. After being re-elected in 2012. 

Malala Yousafzai

(12 July 1997) 

"I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is the story of many girls."- Malala

Received The Nobel Peace Prize 2014 

Malala Yousafzai became an international symbol of the fight for girls’ education after she was shot in 2012 for opposing Taliban restrictions on female education in her home country of Pakistan. In 2009, Malala had begun writing a blog under a pseudonym about the increasing military activity in her home town and about fears that her school would be attacked. After her identity was revealed, Malala and her father Ziauddin continued to speak out for the right to education.

The Taliban’s attack on Malala on 9 October 2012 as she was returning home from school with her friends received worldwide condemnation. In Pakistan, over 2 million people signed a right to education petition, and the National Assembly ratified Pakistan's first Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill.

In 2013, Malala and her father co-founded the Malala Fund to bring awareness to the social and economic impact of girls' education and to empower girls to demand change. In December 2014, she became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Secretary-General António Guterres designated Malala as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2017 to help raise awareness of the importance of girl’s education.

Emma Watson, in full  Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson 

(15 April, 1990 ). 

 An English actress, model and activist. 

Emma is best known for her role as the iconic character of Hermione Granger in the globally successful “Harry Potter” films.  British actor Emma Watson was appointed UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in July 2014. The accomplished actor, humanitarian dedicates her efforts towards the empowerment of young women and will serve as an advocate for UN Women’s HeForShe  campaign in promoting gender equality. 

About HeForShe

HeForShe is an invitation for men and people of all genders to stand in solidarity with women to create a bold, visible and united force for a gender equal world. Created by UN Women, the HeForShe solidarity movement for gender equality provides a systematic approach and targeted platform where a global audience can engage and become change agents for the achievement of gender equality in our lifetime.

Leonardo DiCaprio, in full Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio 

(11 November,1974)

'None of this is rhetoric, and none of it is hysteria': Leonardo DiCaprio on climate change

Leonardo DiCaprio, an Academic Award winning actor, has been an outspoken advocate for environmental issues throughout much of his career, in 1998, at the age of 24, Mr. DiCaprio established his foundation with mission of protecting the Earth's last wild places and implementing solutions to build a more harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world. Through grantmaking, public campaigns, and media projects, Mr. DiCaprio has worked to bring  attention and funding to the protection of biodiversity, ocean and forest conservation, and climate change.

The Leonardo DiCaprio also serves on the board of several environmental protection organizations including the World life Fund, the Natural Resource Defense Council and Animal Welfare.  The natural Foundation supports over 35 innovative conservation projects around the world that protects fragile ecosystems and key species.

The Secretary- General designated Mr.  Dicaprio as a Messenger of peace with special focus on climate change ahead of 2014 Climate Summit, aimed at catalyzing towards a Global Climate agreement in 2015.

DiCaprio was honored with the prestigious Clinton Global Citizen Award for his philanthropic work. His speech at the 

Climate Summit 2014 resonates even till today as the threat of  losing our ecosystems.

Mark Zuckerberg, in full Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, 

(14 May, 1984)

An American Business Magnate

“The greatest successes come from having the freedom to fail.” - Mark Zuckerberg

Zuckerberg has been listed as one of the most influential person in the world, he  is an American business magnate, computer programmer, internet entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is chief executive and chairman of Meta Platforms, the company previously known as Facebook that he co-founded  in 2004 as a student at Harvard University. Facebook under Zuckerberg's leadership grew into a dominant company in social media,  aided by acquisitions  of Instagram and WhatsApp.