BRITISH Prime Minister Mr. Rishi Sunak has represented the global view by stating that India is the ‘right country’ at ‘right time’ to hold G20 Presidency. From stabilising the global economy to dealing with climate change to expanding the sustainable positive cultural influences to championing the cause of human-centric globalisation while treating the world as one family, India has emerged as a global leader. Hence, it is but natural for the world to recognise India’s unique position. In Mr. Sunak’s statement, the phrase ‘right time’ has to be focussed upon. For, when the world has been facing the adverse effects of disruptions in global supply chains due to conflicts, and also the dehumanising consequences of sticking to GDP-centric view of the world, the world needed people with values to lead in different spheres of life. These different spheres of life included politics, culture, art, technology, health and everything that could benefit humanity as a whole. Over-emphasis on materialistic worldview led several societies in the world to a point of self-centered thinking dominating collective wisdom. From innovation to education to institution of marriage to family values, everything came to be regulated by ‘gains’ instead of ‘growth’.

 

Relationships started getting moving towards the narrow considerations of ‘production relations’ instead of wider bond of compassion that connected humanity beyond borders. In such a situation, the societies the world over needed rejuvenation of core values that distinguished humans from machines. Institutions needed reforms, global thinking needed a thought leadership, and this was the time when leaders with Indian values emerged in several countries. If one goes by official data, 200+ people of Indian origin occupied leadership positions in at least 15 countries in 2021, with more than 60 of them holding Cabinet positions. Today, several people of Indian origin are occupying top positions in various countries including Mr. Sunak, and Mrs. Kamala Harris as Vice-President of the USA, Mr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali as Executive President of Guyana, Mr. Chan Santokhi as President of Suriname, Mr. P K Jugnauth as Prime Minister of Mauritius, Mr. Leo Varadkar as Prime Minister of Ireland. More recently, Mr. Tharman Shanmugratnam has emerged as President-elect of Singapore. The list may expand also, as Ms. Nikki Haley and Mr. Vivek Ramaswamy launching their bids for the White House in 2024 in the USA. Even in the field of technology, people of Indian origin like Mr. Sunder Pichai (Google), and Mr. Satya Nadella (Microsoft) are leading lights among others. Similarly, the cultural values of India are getting recognised worldwide.

 

Wide acceptance to ‘Yoga’ as a holistic wellness practice, Indian dance forms and music and hymns from ancient Indian scriptures becoming popular across the globe, reflect this reality. While the world was concerned about COVID-19 impact on economy, India kept growing following a different model altogether and showed a new direction. India’s success in space missions, vaccine making, outreach to countries with diverse civilisations values as also to common people... everything evokes confidence. India is leading on multiple fronts. As G20 Summit is being held in New Delhi, this phenomenon of Indian leadership needs to be looked at beyond absence or presence of some heads of State. India’s consistent stand for the Global South and African Union to be taken along, reflects Indian value of co-operation and friendship resulting in mutual trust. All these have created a positive atmosphere. Hence, India is getting recognised as a ‘right country’ at ‘right time’ to hold G20 Presidency. Of course, this is just the beginning.