Union Budget 2026: Timeless Blend Of Poetry, Policy And Public Connection; From Manmohan Singh To Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament, and it is expected that this time too, a glimpse of literature will be seen amidst the figures and policies. In the tradition of the Indian budget, poems and couplets (sher-o-shayari) have always held a special place, where the works of great literary figures lend a human touch to economic reforms. This not only makes the speech more engaging but also strengthens the connection with the public.

History has shown that former finance ministers have drawn upon the lines of Rabindranath Tagore, Gurajada Appa Rao, Thiruvalluvar and even Urdu poets, to shape the budget into a cultural narrative rather than just a game of numbers.

From Gurajada Appa Rao To Thirukkural: Cultural Narratives In Policy

In last year's 2025 budget, Sitharaman quoted the famous line by Telugu poet Gurajada Appa Rao, "Desamante matti kadoyi, desamante manushuloyi" (a country is not just soil, a country is its people), stating that the budget's focus is on public welfare. Appa Rao, a prominent literary figure of the 19th-20th century, is known for his patriotic poems. In his poem "Desamunu Preminchumanna" (Love the country), he emphasises education, unity, and progress, which aligns with the budget's theme of 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India).

Similarly, by quoting a line from Thiruvalluvar, the author of the Tamil classic 'Thirukkural', Sitharaman emphasised social justice. This work by Thiruvalluvar is 2,000 years old, but its use in economic policy demonstrates how literature transcends the boundaries of time.

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Historic Quotes: From Allama Iqbal To Pandit Dinanath Kaul

Rakesh Parihar, a senior journalist from Ranchi, says this trend of using literature in budget speeches is not new. In the historic 1991 budget, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recited lines from the Urdu poet Allama Iqbal, "Yunan-o-Misr-o-Roma sab mit gaye jahan se, ab tak magar hai baqi naam-o-nishan hamara", which highlighted India's stability during the era of economic liberalisation.

In 2020, Sitharaman quoted from a poem by Kashmiri poet Pandit Dinanath Kaul, "Hamara watan khilte hue Shalimar Bagh jaisa... hamara watan Dal jheel mein khilte hue kamal jaisa", which was linked to the situation following the abrogation of Article 370. These examples make it clear that the works of literary figures transform the budget from a mere financial document into an emotional appeal.

Satire And Humour On The Budget In Hindi Literature

In Hindi literature, too, many satirical and humorous poems about the budget can be found. Poet Adam Gondvi's lines, "Kaju bhune plate mein, whisky gilas mein, utra hai Ramraj vidhayak nivas mein", are a scathing critique of government extravagance that remains relevant today.

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Similarly, contemporary poets such as Dinesh Bawra make the budget a theme in humorous poetry gatherings (hasya kavi sammelans), where they describe the impact on the common person's finances in a light-hearted manner.

Perspectives On The Unique Blend Of Literature And Economics

Dr Shobhit Suman, a former research scholar at Central University, Gayaji, considers this tradition of literature in the budget a positive step. Premchand's stories contain lines about the common person's budget. Much like in the poem by literary figure Bhawani Prasad Mishra, "Main kuch dino se ek vichitra sampannata mein pada hoon", the budget also speaks of economic prosperity, but the real question is whether this prosperity will reach everyone.

Harivansh Rai Bachchan's famous line, "Agnipath Agnipath Agnipath", reflects the challenges of the budget, where the path to development is as difficult as a path of fire.

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Literary Inspirations: Bachchan, Nirala And The Common Man

Lines inspired by Bachchan's 'Madhushala'... Lost in the sweet memories of Madhushala, I am an unknown traveller; on the path of life, like the budget, a new test at every step. Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala's' 'Var de, veena vadini var de'... is a prayer for prosperity, akin to an economic boon in the context of the budget.

Shobhit writes:

In the budget book are written new dreams, In the common person's pocket, the holes are old. The stream of development flows like a poem, But the drops of tax become all tears.

These words have emerged from the country's soil, For the people, from the people, the people's budget.