Pondicherry University took lead in organising the first event on G20 Indian Presidency on 23 rd January 2023 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Auditorium under the UGC program “University Connect” that aims at holding talks to facilitate awareness amongst students, faculty members and staff on G20 Summit to be held in India in the month of September 2023. The event was organised under the able leadership of the Honourable Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gurmeet Singh. Special speakers were Dr. Seshadri Chari, Member Governing Council, Research and Information System for Developing Countries and Air Marshal Dr. M. Matheswaran, AVSM VM (Retd), Chariman & President, The Peninsula Foundation, Chennai. The event was attended by students not only from Pondicherry University but also from other nearby institutions as well the KV on campus. The program began with the Pondicherry University Anthem followed by screening of the Official video on the theme of G20 Indian Presidency in 2023. The video introduced the theme chosen by India for the Summit “ Vasudhaiya Kutumbakam” meaning One Earth, One Family, One Future that emphasizes Sustainable Lifestyle, Inclusive Economic Growth that leaves no one behind, Women-led Development, leading to a collective and inclusive future.

The logo with the seven lotus petals under globe represent seven seas and continents, indicating the coming together of all the G20 countries for shared global growth as one large community. This was followed by Welcome Remarks from Prof. A Subramanyam Raju who presented briefly the history of G20 countries, a collection of twenty largest economies in the world formed in 1999. Highlighting the importance of G20, he explained that the countries included together represent around 90% of global GDP, 80% of global trade and two thirds of the world’s population. India can, he said, play a significant role by showcasing its strengths such as NEP, Unity in Diversity, rich, multi-religious culture and multilateral approach. It can also present itself as a reliable partner from the global south particularly in these times marked by financial uncertainty, climate crisis and war related conflicts and trust deficiency among countries. The theme of “One Earth, One Family and One Future” can offer innovative and functional approach of

harmony, hope and happiness and navigate trust by reiterating India’s ancient traditional values and ethics that see the world as one large solidarity. His discussion was taken further by the special remarks of the honourable Vice-Chancellor of Pondicherry University who explained that the evolution in infrastructure, health, education and defence sector in India in the past 50 years has made the nation strong both economically and militarily. India has shown the world that it is possible to co-exist and progress with non-belligerent ties, through sharing and co-operation rather than following the hegemonic model of dominance and power practised by the Western world. The keynote speaker Dr. Seshadri Chari said that India takes up G20 Presidency at a crucial time, at a moment of crisis on various fronts with numerous political, health and climate-related issues. As a representative of BRICS and IBSA countries, India has enormous potential to lead the Global South and propose a new world order that privileges both national and international interests rather than focusing on narrow self-interests that fail to see interconnectedness on a global level. India can contribute in rethinking the old developmental paradigms based on hegemony and hierarchy in favour of an approach based on partnership and egalitarianism. Air Marshall Dr. M. Matheswaran, too, emphasised the importance of timing in India’s G20 Presidency discussing particularly the Ukraine conflict. He analysed that the rise of West was based on the politics of coercion by the Developed countries. India’s strategic location in Asia and Indian Ocean allows it the possibility to emerge as a leader who can reverse this Eurocentric model to one based on multilateralism and propose a universal, global and humanitarian interpretation of World Order. There was a fruitful interaction with students who asked many interesting questions that were answered by the special guests. The event came to a close with vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Richa Tiwari and National Anthem.
 

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