Constructing cultural integration through rhetoric in Modi’s speech in Lumbini, Nepal

Narendra Modi's speech at Lumbini, delivered during the 2566th birth ceremony of Lord Buddha, effectively employed rhetorical strategies to foster religious and cultural integration between Nepal and India. By leveraging Aristotle's rhetoric and Toulmin's argument model, the study reveals that Modi's discourse emphasized Hinduism and Buddhism while sidelining other religious and cultural sentiments in both nations. This approach served a dual purpose: it strengthened political relations through cultural nationalism and asserted the supremacy of these two religions. The findings contribute new insights to rhetorical analysis, particularly regarding Modi's communication strategies, and highlight the potential for further exploration of such tactics in his speeches.

Ghimire, S. P. (2024). Constructing cultural integration through rhetoric in Modi’s speech in Lumbini, Nepal. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03000-w