Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Summit for Democracy through video conferencing on Wednesday, where he talked about India’s progress and its commitment to democracy. He stated that India is the fastest-growing major economy despite the global challenges faced by the world. He also emphasized that democracy is not just a structure, it is a spirit.
The Prime Minister shared that the idea of elected leaders was a common feature in ancient India, even before the rest of the world. He gave the example of the ancient epic, Mahabharata, where the first duty of citizens was to choose their own leader. Mr Modi also talked about the sacred Vedas, which speak of political power being exercised by broad-based consultative bodies. He added that many historical references in ancient India point towards Republic states where the rulers were not hereditary, making India the mother of democracy.
The guiding philosophy in India is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, which means striving together for inclusive growth, according to the Prime Minister. He also spoke about India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative, which shared millions of vaccines with the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Modi said that India’s response to the pandemic was people-driven, and Indian citizens made it possible to administer two billion doses of Made in India vaccine.
The Prime Minister stated that every initiative in India is powered by the collective efforts of its citizens, whether it is the effort to fight climate change through lifestyle changes, conserve water through distributed storage, or provide clean cooking fuel to everyone. India’s commitment to democracy and progress has been visible throughout history, making it a leading nation in the world today.
There are several ideas that other countries or individuals can borrow from the above response given by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi:
Democracy is not just a structure, it is a spirit: Mr Modi emphasized that democracy is not just a system of government, but also a spirit. This means that people should be actively engaged in the democratic process and participate in decision-making. This can be helpful to other countries where people feel excluded from the decision-making process. For instance, in the United States, people have been calling for reforms in the political system to make it more participatory and inclusive.
People-driven response to COVID-19: Mr Modi highlighted that India’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was people-driven, and Indian citizens made it possible to administer two billion doses of Made in India vaccine. This means that citizens should be actively involved in responding to crises and should play a crucial role in decision-making. This can be inspiring to other countries where people have been demanding more involvement in crisis management. For instance, in Brazil, citizens have been protesting against the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, demanding more involvement in decision-making.
Inclusive growth: The guiding philosophy in India is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, which means striving together for inclusive growth. This means that economic growth should benefit everyone, not just a select few. Other countries can borrow this idea and strive towards inclusive growth, which can help reduce inequality and poverty. For instance, in South Africa, the government has been working towards achieving inclusive growth through policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality.
In conclusion, the ideas presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be helpful and inspiring to other countries or individuals. Democracy should be more than just a structure, it should be a spirit that engages citizens in decision-making. People should be actively involved in responding to crises, and economic growth should benefit everyone. By implementing these ideas, countries can create more inclusive and participatory societies.