Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of his trip to Bali in November, said India’s G20 Presidency would be based on the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. PTI
On December 1, 2022, India took over the G20 presidency from Indonesia – an honor it will retain until November 30, 2023.
New Delhi is set to host the largest G20 summit ever in September, attended by the heads of 43 delegations. He chose “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The world is one family) as the theme of his presidency – which also happens to be the maxim of the G20.
Let’s take a closer look at what this means:
In November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of his trip to Bali, said that India’s G20 Presidency would be based on the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
According to the G20 website, the theme comes from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad.
The theme affirms the value of all life – human, animal, plant and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on planet Earth and in the wider universe.
The theme also highlights LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), with its associated, sustainable and environmentally responsible choices, both at the level of individual lifestyles and at the level of national development, leading to transformative actions at the national level. scale leading to a cleaner, greener and bluer future.
The G20 says its logo is inspired by the colors of the Indian national flag – saffron, white, green and blue.
It juxtaposes planet Earth with the lotus, India’s national flower that reflects growth in the face of challenges. Earth reflects India’s pro-planetary approach to living in perfect harmony with nature. Below the G20 logo is “Bharat,” written in Devanagari script.
“The logo and theme together convey a powerful message from India’s G20 Presidency to strive for fair and equitable growth for all around the world as we navigate through these turbulent times in a sustainable, holistic, responsible and inclusive. . They represent a uniquely Indian approach to our G20 Presidency, of living in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem,” the G20 website says.
For India, the G20 Presidency also marks the start of “Amritkaal”, the 25-year period beginning from the 75th anniversary of its independence on August 15, 2022 and leading up to the centenary of its independence, towards a futuristic, prosperous society. , inclusive and inclusive. developed society, characterized by a central human-centered approach.
The website Civil20.net explains that “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” is not a utopian ideal.
“It can be considered as a universal maxim whose aim is not to impose, but to allow mutual respect and to evolve human consciousness and society. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is the most practical way to “recover together, recover stronger”, as expressed by the G20 Indonesia 2022. It helps us move from an “I-them” approach to an “I- We “. It also promotes a Dharma-based society, where the strong protect the weak, where giving precedes taking, and where rights and responsibilities are synchronous,” the website states.
What are the experts saying?
Takeo Konishi, Country Director of the Indian Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank, noted in an article that India is crucial in forming consensus to address global challenges.
Konishi added that New Delhi is key to “adapting global solutions”.
An article in economic times is of the view that India has no better opportunity to lead the G20 through the ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
“We live in a scarred and contaminated land, battling the virus, war, inflation, learner poverty, global warming and loss of income and jobs at the same time. Never has there been so much desperation with skyrocketing oil and gas prices and shrinking economies in the face of debt and post-recession recovery. It’s a ‘second time to come,’” he said.
A report in India today noted that the maxim is also engraved at the entrance to the central hall of the Indian Parliament. “The 5,000-year-old Indian civilization is the epitome of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, India being home to the four major world religions, a melting pot of various beliefs, ideologies, ethnicities, cultures, food habits, dress sense, values . .”
The cited article fFormer Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said: “Our ancient society built on Sanatana Dharma welcomed people of all faiths and indeed the majority community over the centuries has been an island force in preventing religious conflicts between other groups”. He further believes that it is a living example of our ancient belief that ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or humanity is one family, in all its rich diversity.
The G20, or Group of 20, is an intergovernmental forum bringing together the major developed and developing economies.
It includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and European Union countries. (EU).
The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, representing around 85 percent of global GDP, more than 75 percent of global trade and around two-thirds of the world’s population.
With the contribution of the agencies
Posted: Jul 27, 2023 4:17:20 PM IST
