May Force be with you: Modi hails youth power, invokes Star Wars magic at Central Park

New York: PM Narendra Modi does not fail to charm every time he stands up to speak, and he is at his best when it comes to striking a chord with the audience, which often ends up in claps and cheers.

And similar was the scene at New York's Central Park, where a happy crowd of 60, 000, gathered for "Global Citizen Festival”, clapped in jubilation as Narendra Modi dished out a short but impactful seven-minute speech, starting with a 'Namaste' and concluding with an iconic quote from the 'Star Wars', interspersing it with a vedic shloka in Sanskrit.

Starting his address at the Central Park in a quintessential celeb-style, where he was introduced by none other than the X-men actor Hugh Jackman, Modi asked the thousands-strong crowd, “How are you doing, New York...”

He then went on to greet them with a ''Namaste'', adding, “My greetings, to all those, watching on TVs, laptops, tablets and phones, as well”.

Modi also mentioned how the he was delighted to be among the youth, in an open area like the Central Park and not “inside a closed conference room”.

“I feel, a current of hope, in this Park. Among you, I feel confident about the future..,” said Modi, saying how he could feel the spark within him.

Really enjoyed being among youngsters at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, NYC. pic.twitter.com/TzQ66r1M5q — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2014

Praising the “Global Citizen Festival” mission for its work on ending poverty, and providing education and sanitation to all, Modi admired how the youths cared about those whose names, faces or nationalities they did not even know.

For you to convert, your thoughts into action. And devote, your time, and energy. So that others, may have a better future too.

Those living in poverty. Without education. Without basic sanitation. Without opportunity. And worse, without hope.

Saluting the youth's contribution, Modi said, “What an admirable act, this is. What a sacred mission. Today.. you have shown, that you also care, for the world outside. I salute you. I feel proud.”

Also, pitting the “wisdom of the old” against the youth power, Modi said how he believed that the “can-do” attitude of the youngsters was more powerful.

The future belongs to the youth. Their idealism, innovation, energy & 'can do' attitude is truly very powerful. http://t.co/Uz5eagRMBt — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2014

Modi hoped the same innovative can-do attitude will work for the 800 million youth of India, and “transform our nation”. 

Modi, then concluded his speech with a vedic sanskrit shlok, he said was “personally inspiring” for him:

Om, Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ

Sarve santu nirāmayāḥ

Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu

Mā kashchit duḥkha bhāgbhavet

Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ

Which translates to:

"May all be free from illness

May all see what is spiritually uplifting

May no one suffer

May peace prevail"

Modi did not forget that the crowd gathered there had witnessed energetic rock performances by Alicia Keys and Sting and the PM seemed to have his finger on the pulse of the energetic crowd when he chose to conclude his speech with an iconic quote from the Star Wars.

May the Force be with you, PM Modi told the jubilant crowd at Central Park.