?Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam? Echoes at QUAD; ?United hereby Democratic Values, Quad is a force of Global Good?, says PM Modi

It was a great historic moment when four powerful countries like America, Japan, India and Australia were on one platform for their first Quad summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga came together in a virtual meeting of the “Quad” group of nations that is central to the efforts to counter China’s growing military and economic power.

The first Quad summit started with US president Joe Biden. ‘It’s great to see you PM Modi’, President Biden said as the two leaders met for the first time since the new administration took charge after the US election. Addressing the summit, US President Joe Biden said, “Increased vaccination to be a key power in global growth.”

After that, all world leaders have come up with their views about world safety and security

“It’s the Indo-Pacific that’ll now shape the destiny of the world in the 21st Century. As four leaders of great democracies in Indo-Pacific region, let our partnership be an enabler of peace, stability and prosperity and to do so inclusively with many nations in the region,” Australian PM Scott Morrison said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again invoked the ancient Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” during the historic Quad grouping summit. PM Modi, in his opening remarks, said the four countries were united by their democratic values and that the Quad would remain an important pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region. It is good to be among friends. I thank President Biden for this initiative. We are united by our democratic values, and our commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Our agenda today — covering areas like vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies – makes the Quad a force for global good,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In his address, Prime Minister Modi said Quad is an extension of India’s tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

“We will work together closely as ever before for advancing shared values & promoting secular, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” PM Modi said.

Quad is a force for global good , said PM Modi

Our agenda today covering areas like vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies make the Quad a force for global good, said PM Modi

‘Quad has come of age’, said PM Modi

“It will now remain an important pillar in the stability of the region,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

The most significant among the deliverables envisaged in the historic summit of leaders of the Quad countries is a coronavirus vaccine initiative that will allow new manufacturing capacity to be added in India for export to the Indo-Pacific region. Addressing the meeting, Modi said, “I see this positive vision as an extension of India’s ancient philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which regards the world as one family. We will work together, closer than ever before for advancing our shared values and promoting a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.” Quad summit Joined by President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Modi put the focus on an age-old philosophy which translates into ‘the world is our family.

What it Means:

The Sanskrit phrase Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means “the world is one family,” is found in Hindu texts such as the Maha Upanishads.

The Sanskrit term Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam is made up of several words: vasudha (‘the earth’), eva (‘indeed’); and kudumbakam (‘family’).

Let’s know why this mantra often repeated in India’s diplomatic conventions, here is when used Mantra on the world forum.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee: At a meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum’s national human rights institutions in 2002, Atal Bihari Vajpayee used the term to argue that “India’s understanding and advocacy of human rights are as universal as they are ancient.”

Modi in 2014: In his first UN speech in 2014, Narendra Modi used the locution to reaffirm India’s stance on Security Council reform and lament the world body’s failure to effectively deal with cross-border terrorism.

Vice President Naidu: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu in 2019 said that ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam’ has been the guiding light for the Indian family system since time immemorial and the country’s ethos and sociocultural fabric are woven around this perceptive phrase. Inaugurating the International Conference of Global Mothers-2019, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam –Family System and Role of Mother”, in New Delhi.

At that time Naidu expressed happiness over the theme of the conference saying that the conference is a celebration of motherhood. “The entire world is indebted to mothers and this is the reason that in all religions and in all parts of the world mothers hold a special position.