India is widely known as the mother of democracy, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reinforced this claim with his address at the Second Summit for Democracy, co-hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema, the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol.

 

Speaking during the 'Leader-level Plenary on Democracy Delivering Economic Growth and Shared Prosperity' session hosted by President Yoon, Mr. Modi said the idea of elected leaders was a common feature in ancient India long before the rest of the world. He highlighted that the Mahabharata describes the first duty of citizens as choosing their own leader, and the Vedas speak of political power being exercised by broad-based consultative bodies.

 

Mr. Modi also noted that India is the fastest-growing major economy despite many global challenges and this proves that the democracy can deliver. He further said that every initiative of his government is powered by collective efforts of the citizens of India. He cited examples such as the effort to fight climate change through lifestyle changes, to conserve water through distributed storage or provide clean cooking fuel to everyone.

 

The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which he said was people-driven. He noted that the country’s ‘vaccine maitri’ initative was also guided by the mantra of ‘vasudeva kutumbakam’, meaning ‘one earth, one family and one future’.

 

Mr. Modi’s address at the Summit for Democracy was a powerful reminder of India’s long-standing commitment to democracy and the importance of citizens being involved in the decision-making process. It is also a testament to the fact that India is the mother of democracy, having the idea of elected leaders much before the rest of the world. Reference source: TH

 

About the Summit for Democracy

 

The Summit for Democracy is a virtual event hosted by the United States with the goal of revitalizing democracy and confronting autocracies around the world. The first summit was held on December 9-10, 2021, with three main themes: defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption, and advancing respect for human rights.

 

The second Summit is scheduled for March 2023, and it will be co-hosted by the United States, Costa Rica, Zambia, Netherlands, and South Korea. The purpose of the summit is to bring together world leaders, civil society representatives, and other experts to discuss democratic challenges and opportunities.

 

During the first summit, various discussions were held over the course of two days, including panels on bolstering democratic resilience in the age of COVID-19, preventing corruption, protecting human rights, and strengthening democratic institutions. The summit also featured speeches from Hong Kong democracy activist Nathan Law and other participants.

 

UPSC Main Exam Question

 

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke at the Leader-level Plenary on Democracy Delivering Economic Growth and Shared Prosperity session hosted by President Yoon during the Second Summit for Democracy. Discuss India's contribution to democracy as highlighted by Mr. Modi and its relevance in the present-day scenario.

 

Answer: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed the Second Summit for Democracy, co-hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema, the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol. During the summit, Mr. Modi highlighted India's contribution to democracy and its relevance in the present-day scenario.

 

According to Mr. Modi, the idea of elected leaders was a common feature in ancient India long before the rest of the world. The Mahabharata describes the first duty of citizens as choosing their own leader, and the Vedas speak of political power being exercised by broad-based consultative bodies. Mr. Modi's address at the summit is a powerful reminder of India's long-standing commitment to democracy and the importance of citizens being involved in the decision-making process.

 

Furthermore, Mr. Modi emphasized that India is the fastest-growing major economy, despite many global challenges, which proves that democracy can deliver. He cited various initiatives of his government, such as fighting climate change through lifestyle changes, conserving water through distributed storage, and providing clean cooking fuel to everyone, which are powered by collective efforts of the citizens of India.

 

Moreover, Mr. Modi highlighted India's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which he said was people-driven. The country's 'vaccine maitri' initiative was also guided by the mantra of 'vasudeva kutumbakam', meaning 'one earth, one family, and one future'.

 

In conclusion, Mr. Modi's address at the Second Summit for Democracy highlights India's contribution to democracy and its relevance in the present-day scenario. It emphasizes the importance of citizens being involved in the decision-making process, and the fact that democracy can deliver economic growth and shared prosperity.

 

Image : US Department of State