As we know, India has the Group of Twenty (G20) presidency from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. This is a significant period for India globally as the Group of Twenty (G20) comprises the World's most powerful developed and developing countries, accounting for 85% of the World's domestic product, 75% of trade, and more than two-thirds of the population. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, The Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union comprise the G20 group. This year's (G20) meeting will be held on September 9-10 in Delhi, with nine guest countries and numerous international organizations also invited. Even though the central G20 Summit is being held in Delhi, many important meetings and programs from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023, are being organised in almost every province of India. Some of the major host cities where these meetings will take place are Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Chandigarh ( Punjab and Haryana), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), among others. Public participation is also being ensured for the first time, along with the participation of every province in an international event.
The presidency of G20 to India has come up with challenges and opportunities. India is presently the fifth largest economy in the World, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and also among the most populated countries in the World. So, on the one hand, India is ready to demonstrate its material power; on the other hand, as the World's most ancient civilization, India is willing to show its rich and ancient cultural heritage to the World. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that India should display its spiritual wisdom to the World because it will be its original and unique contribution to the World. Swami Vivekananda, the great yogi of the 19th century, said that "each nation has a destiny to fulfil, each nation has a message to deliver, each nation has a mission to accomplish. Therefore, from the very start, we must have to understand the mission of our own race, the destiny it has to fulfil, the place it has to occupy in the march of nations, the note which it has to contribute to the harmony of races."
India's vision for G20 is relatively straightforward, which can be extracted from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at unveiling the logo, theme, and website of India's G20 Presidency on November 8, 2022. Among others, the Prime Minister focused on three crucial points in his speech: 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' universal brotherhood, and Advaita. These three points will be the original contribution of India to the globe through G20. Modi is taking forward the legacy of Swami Vivekananda by popularising the ancient Indian wisdom to the World. Swami Vivekananda, when he went to the west, was the first person to introduce this Indian concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' which says that the whole World is our family, Universal brotherhood which discards the narrow concept of brotherhood into universal unity and Advaita - which promotes unity in diversity and the idea of oneness.
Swamiji's September 11, 1893 speech, the "Response to Welcome," at the World Parliament of Religions, Chicago, America, is popularly known as the Universal Brotherhood speech. Swamiji said, "I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the World both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true." This notion of universal acceptance was an eye-opener for the west. At the same time, one can be proud of his religion and accept others simultaneously. This idea of the Universal Brotherhood, which views the whole World as one family, came from our ancient Hindu text Maha Upanishad. In his lectures and speeches, Swamiji preached the ancient Indian wisdom which was attended by thousands of westerners.
Through his tireless efforts, Swamiji erased the wrong picture of India, from a poor country to a country of knowledge and wisdom. Today in the 21st century, India has progressed in almost every field of life and is ahead in several aspects even when compared with the developed countries. However, its unique contribution to humanity cannot be material but always spiritual. The Prime Minister of India had identified it. Thus, by making it the theme of G20, he is confidently taking ahead the ancient message of India, which Swami Vivekananda took up to the west for the first time. It is also interesting to know that PM Modi is himself inspired by the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda, which he had mentioned in his several speeches. With G20, he takes Swamiji's task forward with conviction and sincerity by introducing the Indian knowledge system to the G20 leaders, delegates, and officials.
Dr. Neha Sinha is a Senior Assistant Professor at Amity Institute of International Studies, Noida & Nikhil Yadav is Research Scholar at JNU & Youth Head, Vivekananda Kendra, North Zone.