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Oct 29, 2024
Ramaharitha Pusarla

India Reiterates Need for Reforming Global Institutions at Kazan BRICS Summit

Conceived, originally as a concept by Goldman Sachs’s economist Jim O’Neil in his study titled “The World Needs Better Economic BRICs” in 2001, that has great economic potential and capability to emerge as a counterweight, BRIC (the first letters of all the respective countries) came into existence much later. In September 2006, Foreign Ministers of Brazil, Russia, India and China met along the sidelines of the 61st UNGA session and decided to work together. Russia, then part of the G8 initiated the creation of BRIC. With no clear-cut laid-out charter and a secretariat, this informal group slowly acquired a degree of working comfort over the years. By 2011 at the Third Summit of Leaders at Sanya in China, South Africa joined it making it BRICS. BRICS, a motley group of countries with divergences and asymmetries invited a lot of scepticism and incertitude initially. However, over the years, the BRICS have evolved a common agenda and gained prominence thanks to its growing economic muscle. After the expansion of BRICS in 2023 and the potential joining of new countries- Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE- the BRICS now represents 45% of the world’s population and accounts for one-third of the global economy. Ostracised as a Pariah state amid the Ukraine war, the 16th BRICS Summit hosted by Russia at Kazan was attended by the leaders and representatives of over 30 countries. has distinctly accentuated the international stature of Moscow. Condemning Moscow’s aggression, the West slapped several rounds of punitive sanctions to cripple the Russian economy and erode its global influence. The West has even started routing the interests from the frozen Russian assets to Ukraine’s war efforts. But to their consternation, notwithstanding their isolationist approach and demonisation of Russia, several countries still chose to rally behind BRICS, an organisation helmed by Russia. Ahead of the Kazan Summit, 34 countries have officially applied for BRICS membership. Of them, 13 countries - Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam were designated as BRICS Partner Countries. The list includes several countries that defied the West’s sanctions. The expanded BRICS grouping heralding the developmental aspirations and capabilities of the members and observers signified the emergence of a robust grouping. A group, intently non-west is fervidly seeking solutions to the outstanding issues amid geopolitical conflicts, economic uncertainties and looming technological challenges. The post-World War II World order dominated by the West and multilateral institutions is proving to be ineffectual in catering to the developmental needs of emerging economies. With the global power shifting from the West to the East with the rise of China, the relevance of the US-led world is in the doldrums. The so-called non-West essentially includes the Global South. Akin to BRICS, the Global South is not a unified entity. It is an ensemble of fledgling democracies, authoritarian regimes, Islamist regimes and even failed states. But what brought them together was their consensus on a myriad of concerns. Reeling under the collective economic shocks of COVID-19 and the Ukraine War, the Global South is finding itself at the receiving end of the geopolitical conflicts. The existing Western multilateral institutions are failing to address these global challenges. The US's increasingly overbearing disposition, cavilling the neutral stance and strategic autonomy of nations is compelling them to strengthen alternatives to the US-dominated global order. Despite the inherent incongruencies in the BRICS, given its growing economic heft, countries are willing to be part of a flexible group which isn’t dominated by a single power or hijacked by a single narrative. Wary of the divisive tactics of the US and its unprincipled military intervention under the pretext of democratising nations, countries are advocating for a multipolar world. A world order that prioritises dialogue and partnership over confrontation. Aptly reflecting the collective hankerings of nations, the theme of the Kazan Summit “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security” has chartered a framework to tackle the global challenges. Positioning as the leader of the Global South, India has been objectively voicing out the problems of the Global South at international forums. With the induction of the African Union into the G20, India has showcased its commitment. Unlike Russia and China which are perceived to be anti-West, India which maintains good ties with the US is considered a neutral power. Incidentally, PM Modi’s bilateral with President Xi after five years along the sidelines of the BRICS had also sent a strategic message to nations about India’s foreign policy. India has burnished its credentials as a strong and amiable nation by reaching a consensus on the border dispute with China. Refusing to meekly surrender, India strongly repulsed Chinese incursions for over four years. Alongside, India patiently engaged in painstaking commander-level talks and diplomacy to resolve the issue peacefully. Parallelly, India stood its ground in the face of the US’s secondment of Canada’s malicious allegations. By calling the bluff of Canada for harbouring secessionist elements New Delhi pulled back its High Commissioner shifting the onus of resurrecting the bilateral ties on the Western nation. India’s firm stance against Western machinations has earned it a special place. Demonstrating its tough resolve in safeguarding its national interests amid direct assaults by the superpowers, has certainly elevated its stature. At the open plenary of the BRICS Summit, PM Modi has set forth an agenda for mitigating global challenges. He announced the proposed launch of the BRICS Startup Forum and welcomed the “consensus reached within BRICS on WTO reforms, trade facilitation in agriculture, resilient supply chains, e-commerce and special economic zones (SEZ) for economic cooperation, BRICS Open Carbon Market Partnership”. Highlighting the need for greater financial integration and trade in local currencies, he cited India’s success with UPI which is now adopted by so many countries. Addressing the major global challenge- climate change, PM Modi welcomed countries to join Indian initiatives like Green Credit started at COP28, International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mission LiFE i.e. Lifestyle for Environment, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam or a Tree in the name of the mother. Modi also enunciated India’s Gati Shakti portal, the multi-modular connectivity program, the BRICS Vaccine Research &Development Centre, the Railway Research Network Initiative, the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women Business Alliance. To nurture BRICS into an inclusive and diverse platform, Modi stressed the importance of addressing the challenges faced by countries- economic uncertainty, food security, health security, energy security, cyber security, climate change and terrorism. At the closed plenary, advocating a people-centric approach, Modi once again reinforced the need for diplomacy and dialogue, condemned the double standards of certain nations towards terrorism and welcomed new partner countries. PM Modi strongly pitched the need for the introduction of reforms in global institutions like UNSC, multilateral development banks and WTO. He appealed to BRICS to collectively and unitedly raise voices. Putting speculations to rest in unequivocal terms, Modi prompted, “BRICS must be careful to ensure that this organisation does not acquire the image of one that is trying to replace global institutions” and advised that BRICS should be perceived as an organisation seeking to reform them. Discernment of BRICS as an anti-west grouping is misplaced. BRICS is essentially shaping as a group of small countries endeavouring to find a balance of power and seeking to “forge an alliance based on shared interests and mutual respect”. EAM Jaishankar who represented PM Modi at the BRICS Outreach Session declared that the time for a multipolar world has arrived. For an equitable world order, he suggested that independent platforms like BRICS must be strengthened and expanded. The benefits of globalisation have been uneven. It is high time that distortions in global infrastructure and production capabilities must be addressed for the “just development” of all nations. BRICS has been a confluence of different outlooks and ideologies. However, over a period of time, the organisation has evolved a framework on the basis of consensus. Turning the inherent diversity into its strength, BRICS is attempting to make a difference in providing an alternative financial infrastructure, transaction systems, and payment methods to mitigate the impact of the unilateral weaponisation of sanctions. Cultivating respect for each other's traditions, BRICS is making a fervent attempt to advance socioeconomic progress and development of nations that attained independence from Colonialism. Dialogue, coordination and cooperation are essential to promote the BRICS spirit. By disallowing the dominance of any single voice, BRICS is carving a special place as an alternative multilateral organisation capable of offering solutions to the longstanding complex issues.

Oct 26, 2024
Chandrahas Halai

Naneghat: A Slice of Indian History

"Hey, Chandrahas! What is such a huge stone pot doing over here?" My adventure trek-loving friend Ashok Bhanushali wondered. - "Ashok, this is a 2200-year-old trade route which connects the Deccan plateau's Junnar (District Pune) with the Kalyan city of the coastal plains of north Konkan. This mountain pass, Naneghat (नाणेघाट) (160 km east of Mumbai and 120 km north of Pune) was a toll booth on this trade route. Merchants passing this toll booth used to put silver coins into this pot carved out of a huge rock to pay their taxes. That is how this mountain pass got its name Naneghat (नाणे means cash in Marathi). In today’s times, the locals call it जकातीचा रंजन, meaning tax-collectors delight.” “There is an ancient port on the Ulhas River at Kalyan city through which it flows. The Ulhas River meets the Arabian Sea near Nala Sopara. Ancient name of Nala Sopara was Supara. Supara was an ancient seaport through which maritime trade was conducted with Western nations. It is also mentioned in the Old Testament. King Solomon’s fleet used to frequent Supara to purchase Indian goods." Though Naneghat is a lesser-known place it is very important from a historical point of view. Hence, during one monsoon season when Ashok informed me that coming Sunday our trekking group would be going to Naneghat I became pretty excited. As per our plans, early Sunday morning we left for Naneghat in Ashok's car. After reaching Kalyan we took the road to Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar). After a while, our car crossed the bridge on the river Ulhas and I noticed boats sailing in the river below. A thought crossed my mind that two millenniums ago merchants used to send their cargo on boats from here to faraway lands. It was as if I had done a journey of thousands of years in a moment. Moving in the direction of Murbad we could see the green covering getting dense on both sides of the road. The weather was becoming pleasant. In between it drizzled. After crossing Murbad, the forest cover became even more dense. We could spot the beautiful mountains of Malshej ghat and Naneghat from afar. We could hear the music of the streams flowing by on both sides of the road. Enjoying the enchanting nature in a short while we reached Vaishakhare village. Malshej ghat starts from here. After covering a short distance, we reached the base of Naneghat. A huge board informing us that this is a 2200-year-old ancient trade route welcomed us. From here began our Naneghat trek. We walked on the trail covered with thick vegetation. Light showers were falling. We were breathing in refreshing pollution-free air. On the way, we encountered three guzzling streams. After a short distance, we had a slight climb. After the climb, we reached a plateau. From here we got a very beautiful view of the peak of Naneghat. To reach the top of the mountain, steps are hewn from the rocks. While climbing the steps we were enjoying the beautiful view of the green valley below. To quench the thirst of the travellers around 2000 years ago the members of the royal family of the Satavahanas had carved a water tank from the rocks at a height slightly below the peak. After resting for a while near the water tank we again started climbing the steps. After a while, we reached the peak. From here, we could see the amazing beauty of the valley below. Since Naneghat is at an altitude of 750m above the mean sea level you can see afar from here. There are some rock-cut caves here. Water tanks have been carved out for rainwater harvesting so that water is available throughout the year for travellers. We entered the main cave. The sculptures of the Satavahana royals were carved out of the rocks, but the time of several centuries has taken its toll. There are inscriptions on the walls of the main cave. “Chandrahas, these inscriptions are in which language?” asked my friend Mangal Bhanushali ji, who is a social worker and an ex-corporator from Ghatkopar, Mumbai. “Mangal bhai, this is Sanskrit written in the Brahmi script.” “Chandrahas, what does it say?” asked my mountaineering trainer friend, Pushpa Patel. “Pushpa Ben, some of the most significant historical information regarding our country is inscribed here.” My friends requested me to say more about this. “Let’s cross over to the other side of the pass. I will tell you everything I know about this while having tea and snacks.” A path has been carved out near the peak of the hill. After crossing this path, we reached the Deccan plateau. Here, we saw the huge rock pot, that I had mentioned at the beginning of the article welcoming us to the Deccan plateau. This is a beautiful place with pleasant weather. We saw a beautiful hill some 2- 3 kilometres away from here. Jivdhan Fort is perched at the peak of the hill. We sat for tea and snacks at a small eatery. “Chandrahas, now tell us about the inscriptions at the cave,” said Pushpa Ben excitedly. After the decline of the Mauryans, the Satavahanas (सातवाहन) rose in power in central Bharat. They ruled over most of the central Bharat (today’s Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, north Karnataka, south Madhya Pradesh and south Gujarat) from 228 BCE to 224 CE. Puranas have called the Satavahana kings as the आंध्र भृत्य, means the ones who served the Andhra Desha. The Satavahana dynasty laid the foundation of today’s Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states. Around 2100 years ago, the northern Maharashtra was ruled by the Maharathi (महारथी) dynasty. The word Marathi (मराठी) is the distorted from Maharathi. The citizens of the Maharathi kingdom spoke Prakrit. Old Marathi had evolved from Prakrit. The citizens of the Maharathi kingdom used to call themselves Maharashtri (महाराष्ट्री). It is from this that the name of the modern state of Maharashtra is derived. In our country marriage is not just a union of two individuals but also of two families. In ancient times when two royal families were tied through marriage alliances, even their kingdoms would get interlinked. Such marriage alliances between two royal families not only benefitted the two kingdoms but also turned around the fortune of the entire nation. Satavahana king Satakarni I (सातकर्णी १) (rule 70-60 BCE) had married princess Naganika Devi (नागनिका देवी), the daughter of Maharathi king Trankayira. Due to this marriage alliance, the Satavahanas grew in power and they spread their boundaries in all directions. The capital of the Satavahanas was initially Prastisthana (प्रतिष्ठान), today’s Paithan in Sambhaji Nagar district (formerly Aurangabad). Later they shifted it to Amravati in today’s Andhra Pradesh. The Satavahanas had provided political stability in central Bharata for more than 300 years. This political stability and security boosted trade and commerce, which brought prosperity to the nation and its citizens. Due to this arts, literature, culture and sciences evolved. Indian goods like spices, silk, cloth, artefacts, etc. had a great demand in foreign lands. Pliny, a Roman author, naturalist, philosopher, army and naval commander (CE 23/24 - 79) had written that there was such a huge demand for Indian goods in the Roman empire that the Romans were splurging all their gold and silver on them. So much so that there used to be shortages of gold and silver in Rome to mint the coins. This is the reason why Bharata was called the golden sparrow. Ptolemy, a Greek geographer and citizen of the Roman Empire visited Bharata in the second century CE. He recorded a lot of information about the Satavahanas in his writings. He had also visited Naneghat. He says that so much of silver coins were put in the rock pot that they overflowed. It was as if a stream of silver was flowing. It was Queen Naganika Devi who had given the funds to carve the caves and the water tanks at Naneghat for the comfort of travellers. From the inscriptions here we get significant information about the Satavahana dynasty. There is information about the yagnas (like Ashwamedh, Rajasuya, etc.) conducted by the royal couple – King Satakarni I and Queen Naganika Devi. There is also a listing of the donations and gifts given by the king and the queen during the various yagnas. Around 150 years ago two ancient silver coins were found in these caves. These two coins bear the name of Queen Naganika Devi. This was the first instance in world history when coins were minted in the name of the queen. There is one more significant aspect of the Naneghat inscriptions. It is one of the oldest archaeological pieces of evidence of one of the most significant inventions that revolutionised science, engineering, architecture, trade-commerce etc. This is one of the most precious gifts of Bharata to the world – a decimal place-value number system. The count of the things given in gifts and donations was inscribed here in Brahmi numerals. Vehicles driving from Junnar can reach to almost the edge of the cliff of Naneghat. Though Naneghat is somewhat less known, it is one of the most significant places from a historical perspective.