The historic message that Narendra Modiji gave at the UNGA was a spiritual insulation against environmental, economic, social, cultural and religious shocks that the world is facing now.
– Dr. T V Muralivallabhan
The address of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modiji at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly was the spontaneous outflow of the great Indian wisdom. The ‘Vision and the Mission’ that he declared from the floor of the global platform proved that he was both global in his vision and local in his mission, which constituted a ‘Glocal’ personality, that is rarely found among leaders, but essentially needed to solve the present crisis in the world.
From Problems to Crises
During the 70s and 80s, we were hearing about only problems – economic, environmental, political and security. But by the 90s, the problems became crises and we began to hear about economic crises, along with environmental, political and security crises. What is the difference between a problem and a crisis? Since a crisis is an aggravated problem, it is comparatively difficult to find a solution for it. Normally, temporary adjustments could be provided for a problem/ crisis, using information and knowledge. But for the long lasting solution of a crisis, wisdom also is required.
According to Swami Vivekananda, personalities become important when they represent principles of wisdom. As a representative of the great Indian wisdom, our Prime Minister is going to lead and guide the world in solving the deep crises that are being confronted at all levels. He could convince the whole world this fact through his recent address at the UN.
Environmental Crisis
Environ-’ mental’ crisis is ultimately the consequence of a mental crisis. It is the result of greed, not the need of human beings. Pollution, Global warming, Climate Change, Ozone depletion, Deforestation, Desertification, Acid rain, Toxic wastes etc. have made life miserable.
When he spoke about the health of the people of India, he knows that it depends upon the environmental health of India as well. The physical and environmental health of India depends upon the physical and environmental health of the world. Cutting trees in Amazon forests cause climate change in Antarctica/Australia. Infectious diseases like AIDS and Bird Flu are transmitted across national borders. Hence the integrated health( Physical and Environmental) of India is essentially linked to the integrated health of the world. Thus, ill health anywhere in this world is a threat to good health everywhere. The whole world is one and also interrelated.
The Prime Minister also knows that policies of politics, programmes of economics and technologies of Sciences are necessary conditions for crisis solution, but not sufficient. As necessary conditions , he suggested ban of single use plastic which pollutes the air ( through burning), water and soil (through throwing away). When air, water and soil are polluted, breathing, drinking and eating become poisonous and then how can we assure the health and prevent the drain of wealth( through treatment of diseases) of the people?
In spite of the low per capita emission of polluting gases, India has taken strong measures to curb pollution. Green Technology has become a buzzword in India. Automobiles are turning electric. Organic farming is promoted. Through all these green measures, the green lights of development are switched on.
PM’s Historical Message
Fighting against terrorism, No Yudh, but Budh and ‘Harmony and Peace’ were the concluding parts of his prestigious UN address. As the descendent of the great Indian culture, who has come across the noble teachings like ‘Loka samastha Sukhino bhavanthu’ and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, there is no other person suitable, to represent and suggest solutions to the grave crises of the world, from a global platform. He stressed on inclusivity, that is disseminating the message of ‘Sab ka sath, Sab ka vikas’. This also is a reflection of the level of wisdom that the PM inherits from the mines of Indian universal values. We may fight battles as a matter of defense and survival, as in the case of terrorism, but as far as possible, we try to avoid war. We regard Budh as more important than yudh. Harmony and peace is the last message in the speech, that he gave to the world by quoting Swami Vivekananda’s words at the Parliament of World’s Religions(1893, Chicago). But he had already proven through surgical strikes that these principles are not for the cowards. For the brave, preference for peace will prevail over war, till it question our own survival by the treacherous and the crooked.
The historic message that Narendra Modiji gave at the UNGA was a spiritual insulation against environmental, economic, social, cultural and religious shocks that the world is facing now. India can proudly claim to be the spiritual Guru of this world, but unfortunately except some sannyasins like Swami Vivekananda in the past and some spiritual persons in the present, no politician from the past governments had ever highlighted India’s wisdom on international platforms, like the UN. The wide gap that was being felt in this area is effectively filled by the present Prime Minister, since he is a Rajarshi. A Rajarshi is a person who understands that the materialistic and worldly problems and crises have a spiritual solution too. It is this quality that makes our Prime Minister the hope of both India and the world.
(Author is Director of Sustainable Development Research Centre, Marian College, Kuttikkanam, Kerala)
