Voices of Global South Summit 2024

 

Global South Summit 2024 bears a typical feature of its own. The crux of the Summit is to restore peace, unity of voice and some purpose. The current one is being held in India’s capital city New Delhi. The Summit has its beginning on January 2023. It was held on January 12-13. Another key objective behind the Summit is to ensure friendship and fraternities with all countries of the globe. The most interesting aspect behind the Summit is that current heads of state of Caretaker government Dr Mohammad Yunus. Spoke virtually to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It is for the cognizance of my online readers, let me touch upon the historical background behind the summit. Before touching up the historical background of the summit. Let me touch upon aims and objectives behind the Summit.

The aims and objectives behind the Summit might be multifarious. Among all some of the common ones are stated as such, nabbing the conflicts, solve energy and food crisis along with the ill effects of  climate change.

Apart from the above, the other aims and objectives are stated as such, ensure entire citizens of the globe to be more vocal to express common problems in their life, humanity should express their views in such a manner which ensures long term impact in their life, rich nations should be more sympathetic upon poor and downtrodden nations of the globe, development work should be carried on in such a manner which ensures progressive aspects of human life, eradication of child labor, evading corruption and finally industrialization which will pave the way towards employment generations, which is deeply relevant across South Asian nations like India and Bangladesh.

Now let me touch upon the historical background of Global South Summit. The noted American social activistCarl Oglesby was instrumental in coining the term, ‘Global South’ way back in the year 1969. The author coined the term while writing in a Commonwealth magazine of a special issue linked with Vietnam War. The term,’ Global South’ has been constituted for the benefits of developing and post-colonial nations so as recovering from economic and political exploitation from nations under ‘Global North’. ‘Global North’ was also constituted to help the nations under Southern Hemisphere for developmental activities on issues like political, economic, and social along with various other issues of common concern. ‘The Global South’ forum gained momentum after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the year 1991. Around that time Mikhail Gorbachov was at the helm of affairs in erstwhile USSR.

Logic behind the introduction of ‘Global South’ began as a synonym for ‘Third World’ began in the decade of seventies with a call for nurturing New International Economic order. The forum acquired international prominence in the year 1980 with an analytical report by Willy Brandt, internationally reputed German statesman. It is through Brandt report this historical document aimed at distinguishing between nations having higher GDP which in the long term concentrated upon people residing along with poor citizens of Northern Hemisphere.

In order to make my article attractive, let me state the names of member nations of Global South Summit. These are India, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Chile, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Lao PDR, Marshal Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Sri Lanka, Surinam, Tajikistan, Timor Leste, Uruguay and Vietnam.

Whenever there is a Summit pertaining to global development. We find that there are applications of English language. Some of my online readers might find it astounding. But I find the views are extremely relevant. In the same manner there are also application of English language codes, like three ‘Cs’ in the world of marketing like courage, confidence and conviction. Coming to the global diplomacy part, we find that five ‘Cs’ are of extreme relevance to the context. These are consultation, cooperation, communication, creativity and finally capacity building.

Apart from the above, the theme of Global South Summit is An Empowered Global Power for a Sustainable Future. To be more elaborative about concept behind the theme of Global South Summit. That indicates all of us stands united in order to encounter various kinds of subversive challenges which global citizens are facing at present. Challenges are omnipresent all around the globe. Though the recent Summit was held virtually. But I feel that South Asian Subcontinent should be rejuvenated to dazzling heights.

South Asian Sub-Continent consists of eight nations. But my focusing will be upon India and Bangladesh. Very recently Bangladesh achieved third phase of her independence from a state of utmost claustrophobic and morbid phase. This has created great impact upon the citizens of neighboring India. Though caretaker government has taken up the mantle of the governance of that nation. But complete peace has not yet bounced back in that nation. Same way in India there has been gruesome crime in Kolkata’s health sector.

That has created widespread uproar among the citizens of not only Kolkata but also in other parts of India. In perspective to the murder of a talented young lady doctor, wide-ranging protests have engulfed all over India as well as across the Sub-Continent.

Apart from the above issues, from the years 2019-2022, the impact of Covid-19 along with two major wars which badly aggravated the life of citizens of South Asian Subcontinent as stated above to a delicate situation. However with courage and conviction things took turns for betterment. In this regard, it has been detected that civil societies of India and Bangladesh are trying their level best steer  the reputations of  their nations all over the globe to a state of utmost prosperity and eulogy. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is playing pivotal roles in this regard along with Heads of State of Caretaker government in Bangladesh Dr Mohammad Yunus.

Both Professor Yunus and Modi are agreeable to each other. Though there is every possibility for profound disagreement. Modi also added that member nations are facing challenges about health, food and energy securities. Indian Prime Minister also emphasized upon areas like nabbingterrorism, extremism and separatism are major causes of threats among the member nations of Global South Summit. Anyhow new challenges like technology divide along with new economic and social challenges which connects to emergence of new technology seems prominence.

Indian Prime Minister Modi also apprised the member nations of Global South Summit that India is committed to promote trade, inclusive development along with progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and women led development.

The past couple of years portrayed traumatic moments for global citizens based in different parts of the globe. Now all of us need peace and tranquil ambience. As per the deliberations of 3rd Global South Summit it can be interpreted as such. India hosted the first Voice of Global South Summit on January 12 and 13, 2023, second Voice of Global South Summit on November 17th 2023 and 3rd one, the latest one was held on August 17th 2024. The significant aspect of the latest Summit was cordial exchange between the adviser of Caretaker government in Bangladesh Dr Mohammad Yunus vis-à-vis with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As per the views of political analysts, the 3rd and latest of Voices of Global South Summit stands quite significant as per global situations stand for. India plays a unique part in this Summit. Apart from the political aspect, from international diplomacy point of view, it envisages bonding among nations of Global South under one umbrella. It was during the period of World War 1,( 1914-1919), when poet and 1st Nobel Laureate in literature Rabindranath Tagore appealed to global citizens to be under one banner. Tagore’s viewpoints was badly ignored by citizens of those times. Now after exactly 105 years people have started realizing the need for unity among all.

Now let’s throw light about the need for VOGSS (Voice of Global South Summit). To my mind it seems to be of utmost relevance. Thus the common need of VOGSS are stated as such, widespread ignorance among citizens, inadequate resources among developing nations and renewal of cooperation among developing nations. As per the last issue is concerned, India is the key partner. India feels that among the developing nations there are common concerns, interests and priorities. All these can be solved through regular dialogue to arrive at common consensus.

In any international seminar like VOGSS, it should be the common endeavor to chalk out the key areas of the 3rd one pertaining to the above. Thus the outcomes are stated as such, trade for development of each member nation’s economy, capacity building for sustainable growth, technological exchange for development and allocation of specific grants after proper specification of respective projects.

Summation of the above views, one point is crystal clear in our mind. Whatever the situation the world faces irrespective of wars, conflicts, various kinds of geopolitical issues along with economic ones, India is deeply concerned about the prevailing situations, so that with proper unity and cohesion, a feeling of one family across the globe is established. Despite being the above our cherished goals, along with India, entire South Asian nations should aim to establish united forces instead of indulging in hostility and coercion among each other.

Sujayendra Das
is a columnist based
in Kolkata, India.