Thru’ the Desk of the Editor
For third consecutive year in a row, and his fourth since he was elected in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address on 25th September 2021 to the 76th session of United Nation General Assembly, spoke on a host of issues including extremism, open sea, and effectiveness of the United Nations (UN), outlining his outlook on India’s place in the world. He reaffirmed India's commitment to democracy, highlighted its great strides in developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines, and warned against “countries with regressive thinking.”
Prime Minister Modi’s strongest words came at beginning of his speech, where he launched a defence of the state of Indian democracy. He highlighted that India is a country that has been known by its democratic tradition. “India is proud to be known to be mother of democracy”, he said, adding that: “Diversity is identity of our strong democracy.” He said India had been named the “mother of democracy” for its adherence to democratic values, symbolised by its diversity, pluralism, inclusivity, and equality.
Prime Minister Modi said that India’s priority was that development should be all-inclusive, all-pervasive, universal and one that nurtures all. Referring to India’s large population, he said that the world grows when India grows, and the world transforms when India reforms, pointing to examples of India’s progress and impact: in area of vaccines and pharmaceuticals, green technology and the promise of 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030, and poverty alleviation. Listing insurance coverage, access to quality health services, and housing, as areas where India has shown progress in past years, he enumerated how many Indians had been provided these facilities. Prime Minister Modi then spoke about problem of water pollution. “Polluted water is a problem not only for India, but for entire world, particularly for poor and developing countries.” To address this challenge, India is carrying out a campaign to ensure that piped clean water reaches over 170 million homes. For development of any country, people must have property rights to their homes and land. India was using drones to map over 600,000 villages to give people digital records of their homes and lands, a process that will reduce property disputes and give people increased access to credit and bank loans.
Prime Minister Modi further said that India’s progress in scientific and technological sectors was cost effective. scalable and could benefit the world. Its new COVID-19 vaccine delivery programme offered digital support to register the administration of millions of doses in a single day. He announced that India has developed world’s first DNA vaccine, which can be administered to anyone above age of 12, and an mRNA vaccine that is in final stages of development. “Despite limited resources, India … is completely invested in development and manufacture of vaccines,” said Prime Minister Modi, issuing an open invitation to manufacturers across the world: “Come, make vaccine in India.”
COVID-19 had taught the world that global economy needs to be expanded. He stressed that India is becoming reliable partner for global industrial diversification. India has struck a balance between economy and ecology and is moving forward with “great speed” on its renewable energy goals. “Science-based, rational and progressive thinking must be the basis for development,” said Prime Minister Modi, explaining that India was rolling out innovative programmes in schools, creating ‘start-up labs’ and in honour of 75th anniversary of country’s independence, planning to launch 75 satellites made by Indian students into space.
Moving to regional matters, Prime Minister Modi pointed to contrast between India’s actions and those of Pakistan and China in veiled references. In an apparent message to Pakistan, he linked events in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have taken control, to problem of “regressive thinking” that leads to use of terrorism as “a political tool”. The countries who are making use of regressive thinking as a political tool must understand, that terrorism poses an equally big threat for them. In that context, it was essential to ensure Afghanistan was not used to spread terrorism, and that “no country takes advantage of delicate situation there for its own selfish interests.” The world is facing increasing threat of recursive thinking and extremism. Under this circumstance, whole world should make science-based rational and progressive thinking, the basis for progress. He added that our oceans are also lifeline of international trade. Oceans are our shared heritage, and we must only use ocean resources and not abuse them. The international community must speak in one voice to strengthen a rules-based world order. He called for safeguarding maritime sphere from “race of expansion and exclusion” and referred to need for investigating “origins of coronavirus”, subjects China is sensitive about.
Addressing the UN directly for its shortcomings, the Prime Minister said that time waits for no one, urging the UN to speed up reforms process that has been flagging for more than a decade. This is the only way to restore credibility of global governance institutions. The UN must improve its effectiveness and enhance its reliability if it wants to remain relevant. Prime Minister Modi quoted words of Indian strategist Chanakya, who had said, “When the right action is not taken at the right time, then it is time itself that causes the action to fail.”
“We have seen a lot of questions are asked about functioning of the UN. We have seen such questions being raised related to climate crisis and during Covid-19 pandemic," he said. The World Health Organisation, the UN's health agency has faced criticism since Covid-19 outbreak first surfaced in China in December 2019. "The proxy war going on in many parts of the world, terrorism and recent crisis in Afghanistan have further highlighted seriousness of these questions," the Prime Minister said.
He stressed that if the United Nations is to remain relevant, it will need to improve its effectiveness and enhance its reliability, vital for the Organization to meet current challenges. However, “with regard to origin of COVID-19 and ease of doing business rankings, institutions of global governance have damaged credibility they had built after decades of hard work,” he noted. The World Bank recently said it is discontinuing its flagship Doing Business publication, citing “data irregularities” in recent editions of global business climate index. The decision was taken after a probe of data irregularities allegedly due to pressure by some top bank officials to boost China’s ranking in 2017 came to light. "It is essential that we constantly strengthen the UN, in order to safeguard global order, global laws and global values,"
The Prime Minister also invoked ideals of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, especially his principle of Integral Humanism is relevant for the entire world. In simple terms, it means - where no one is left behind. In every sphere of governance, we are motivated by this ideal. Prime Minister Modi ended his address by quoting Rabindranath Tagore (in Bengali), "Boldly proceed on the path of good deed and may you overcome all obstacles in the way". He added that efforts of all are required to bring peace and prosperity in the world.
The world has always been an important site to conduct discussions for Prime Minister Modi who sees India not as a net recipient but as a net contributor to global goods and services as a ‘vishwa guru’ or world teacher. The prime minister pitches India as the source of ideas and not just as successful implementer of ideas. India was one of prime movers of Paris Agreement on global warming and has announced that it might do better than its commitments under the Agreement as it pushes forward to fulfil ambitious solar power installation targets and rapid transformation to electric vehicles. In country that is still in process of rolling out basic infrastructure for all, Modi has used digitisation to change narrative about India. When questions about India’s vaccine authenticity were raised in United Kingdom, India could swiftly reply that not only was it mass manufacturer of vaccine researched at Oxford, but also its verification system, entirely digitally registered and transmitted, was more efficient and fool-proof than more analog British system.
Prime Minister Modi’s global vision involves two strains: embracing useful ideas from the world and showcasing where India could be contributor for the world, not just in goods and services, but also ideas. Earlier idea of uniqueness of India was based on successful application of derivative values, for example secularism in India. India was unique because it had successfully applied democracy and secularism in an almost impossibly more complex context than where these ideas were first born, that is the West. India is special because of its application of ideas that emerged from its soil and derivatives of which are also seen in the West. India is secular not because of application of Western theory but because of innate pluralism born out of diversity accommodated within its own ancient texts and traditions. Pluralism is not derivative to India, but India is source of idea of plural coexistence. Indian philosophy of secularism is related to Sarva Dharma Sambhava which means equal respect to all religions.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam imparts sense of oneness to our common humanity, our common development goals, and our common quest for a rule-based global order and international peace.
This is most important Modi intervention in defining India for the world. India is important not only because of successful application of ideas, but as source stream of the ideas themselves.
India has a vision of both its place in the world and of the order it preferred. That is of an order that was rule-based, democratic and plural, that would assist in transformation of India. India is a responsible stakeholder in international system, is willing contributor to international peacekeeping, to solidarity among developing countries and active participant in the multilateral order. This was in past and is also very true today. This involves working with existing order to create an environment for India’s development and to encourage an open, plural and democratic international order. Some critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opined that India seems adrift in terms of a vision of India’s role and place in the world. Some had criticised that becoming ‘vishwa guru’ is hardly the answer to India’s security, autonomy, developmental needs and what they require from the international system. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the 76th session of UN General Assembly is a frank narrative which delineates the path and outcomes desired and is a fitting reply to critics, cynics and detractors.
Articles in this edition of the Journal examine various dimensions of Diplomacy and Security related issues.
