On 27th September 2014 Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his maiden speech at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly attended by the representatives of 190 countries of the world. In his 20 minute speech, the leader of the world’s largest democracy actually spoke not only on behalf of his country of 125 crore people comprising one sixth of the world’s total population but also on behalf of the mankind about its aspirations and expectations in a world of new order. Prime Minister Modi, as was expected, almost touched upon every aspect of current world situation and the challenges that look straight into the eyes of the world community.
Introducing India as one of the ancient civilizations of the world, he concretized in a couple of sentences the essential philosophy of life in relations to action and duty in the material world, which ancient Indian sages usually concentrated upon. The glorious concept of the world as a single family was not only the catchword for ancient Indians but they dovetailed all their efforts and energies to upholding that eternal principle. He said that this concept forms the basis of India’s philosophy of statehood today.
In a broad sweep of reinforcing his argument, Modi said that it were the neighouring countries that were of paramount importance to India and inviting the SAARC countries on the occasion of oath taking ceremony was a manifestation of India’s desire to have friendly and cordial relations with all neighbours including Pakistan. A look at our post-independence history will show that efforts of creating cordial relations with our neighbours have been the corner stone of our country’s foreign policy. India’s history tells us hat it never attacked any country and if at all at any time such an activity was desired feasible it was only in self defence.
On global level, the Prime Minister aptly said that terrorism is a phenomenon which has hardly left any country without impact. This was the greatest challenge to humanity. It was the duty of all freedom loving states to unite against the rapacity of terrorists who are acting only under the spell of destroying humanity and human institutions. He, therefore, suggested that anti- terrorism should go into the convention of the UN and there has to be a firm commitment on the part of free world to fight the menace in unison. Obviously he meant that a mechanism of international level has to be evolved to devise ways and means of fighting terrorism.
Speaking about the United Nations, Modi minced no words in conveying the audience some implications of the changed world and changed aspirations of the people of the world that demanded the UN should make itself relevant to present society. Has it true representation of the people of the world? Does it really address the problems and aspirations of the world community? Does it need reformation and revitalization? These questions were put by Modi with the clear intention of conveying to his audience India’s views that a drastic change in the structure and perception of UN structure and perception were needed.
He had a dig at exclusivist tendencies prevailing in the UN and said that it was not understandable why we divide ourselves into Gs like G4, G8 etc. when we have the wonderful mechanism in the UN structure available to us. In other words he wanted to say that creating groups of countries with vested interests was only to dilute the authority of the United Nations. Committing himself to the principles of the UN, Prime Minister said that India was serious and honest in preserving the sanctity of the world body called United Nations.
What was clearly understandable from Modi’s speech was that here was the leader of a nation with 125 crore people determined to bring about a change in his country through the instrument of science and technology, through expansion of trade and commerce, through cooperation and collaboration with other countries especially the neighbouring countries and through all out efforts of subscribing to regional and international peace. He was committed to develop industry that would provide employment to the youth but at the same time he would ensure that expansion of industry did not jeopardize the ecological balance of the globe.
It is but natural that the world should expect a global vision from the leader of the world’s largest democracy. The ultimate power lies in the hands of the people and India had shown that despite odds in the way, it was committed to adhere to democratic arrangement for its people. As democracy was expanding and gaining more and more popularity, anti-democratic forces were also activated and they behaved in a manner that cannot be called democratic in any way.
Many regions of contemporary world were in a state of turmoil. Afghanistan, which has gone through a long period of disturbance, is gradually pandering to democratic system. Modi made very cryptic and less emphasized reference to Pakistan and did not make any direct reference to the Kashmir rant that had been raked up by Pakistani Prime Minister during his speech. There was large scale debate among many political pundits as to what would be the response of PM Modi to the rant of Pakistani Prime Minister. Some said he should not touch on Kashmir at all and as such convey to Pakistan that Kashmir was no issue to be brought to the UN. Others believed that Modi should give a strong rebuff to Pakistan on raking up Kashmir issue in the General Assembly.
But taking a middle course, Modi very subtly and succinctly reflected India’s reaction by saying that he was interested in revitalizing relations with neighbours including Pakistan and was not averse to talks with that country provided the talks were not held under the cloud of terror. He did make a brief mention of Kashmir saying that floods had ravaged J&K and India was busy in providing rescue and relief to the affected people. He had also offered help to the flood sufferers in the part of Kashmir under illegal occupation of Pakistan.
In conclusion we may say that Prime Minister Modi made a historical speech at the UN GA in which he raised some fundamental issues and harkened the world community that a new era had been ushered in and the world body needed to respond to its call. It was befitting the leader of the world’s largest democracy to focus on world situation and make a universal approach to the problems facing humanity rather than to get embroiled in quarrels and squabbles.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel