Modi-Made
New India Champions Global Gender Equality And Equity At Davos
As India’s
economic performance grows, its soft power grows in proportion. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi as the charismatic leader of this 75 year old republic and
ancient civilisational culture, is thought to have answers to the dilemmas of
the currently divided and troubled world. From a country that used to deliver
unwanted lectures to the world, it is now much sought after.
Modi’s ‘one
world family’ messaging during the recent G20 year hosted by India, ended by
including the 55 nation African Union into its fold. India made the effort,
achieved unanimity for the move, and successfully included the most exploited
and savaged continent on earth onto the leading global platform where its ills
can be addressed.
Domestically,
the inclusive tone is set by ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas, Sabka
Viswas’, despite the inevitable mockery and accusations of Hindu triumphalism.
Together,[GM1] these ideas resonate in an old-fashioned
way in a world with two ongoing wars, one in Europe and the other in West Asia
and the tendency to form opposing axes. A polarisation not seen since WWII is
developing in a very worrisome way.
Meanwhile,
the fact that India has drawn closer to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
and Israel than ever before, in practical, material, ways, gives the lie to the
criticism of Hindu communalism.
In addition,
America has become a firm strategic partner with military and technological
benefits for both. France is now a firm friend and defence manufacturing
partner too, along with Russia. Other relationships have also undergone massive
positive transformations, such as the one with Japan.
Modi, a grey
eminence with unbounded energy, in his 73rd year now, is widely
regarded as one of the most respected and influential voices in the pantheon of
global leaders.
That this
global prominence has grown steadily over the last ten years is not surprising.
Not only have the prime minister and external affairs minister been indefatigable
in their diplomatic efforts, India has come from 10th to 5th
position in its economy. This fact has given India great credibility.
With a gross
domestic product growth of around 7 percent per annum going forward, India is
expected to occupy the 3rd position in the world by 2027. It will be
behind only the US and China, with a GDP of $10 trillion, up from its current $
4 trillion. It is the world’s most successful economy now.
By 2047, India’s
100th year since independence, it is expected to have become a highly
developed country. It will also have multiples of its present per capita income
for its vast population, expected to touch 1.70 billion by then. It is expected
to have an economy of over $ 30 trillion by then.
That India’s
soft power is growing alongside all this is not surprising, nor is it unprecedented.
Ancient India was fabled for its wealth, the greatest in the ancient world.
That it set off a series of marauding conquests and occupations was the other
side of the coin not likely to be repeated in the 21st century.
Its cultural,
civilisational and dharmic influence spread all over the Far East including
China and Japan. This without benefit of any aggression, attempt at domination or
conquest. West Asia was also heavily influenced by Indian learning and
innovation. And not a few so called inventions and discoveries claimed by the
West were shamelessly lifted from India without acknowledgement.
Davos, used
to hosting world’s leaders, its finest minds and economic thinkers, for over
half a century now, witnessed a major presence from India this year, building
on the interest generated last year. This in the presence of leaders from 300
countries.
The rate of
foreign direct investment into India has trebled, and is slated to grow
exponentially into high technology areas such as chip-making, defence
manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and other relocations of manufacturing
from China.
For its
latest soft power projection, India deployed the thoroughly confident and
articulate Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani. She led the
charge for global gender equality and equity.
This is the
first time a woman minister has been sent to represent India’s government, and
over 1 .4 billion people at Davos. This gender initiative is supported by the
Bill and Melinda Foundation, the Davos Summit founder, and over 10,000 global
corporate houses.
The gender
alliance is intended to bring together global good practices, knowledge sharing,
and most importantly, investment in women’s health, education, and support for
women-led enterprise.
Irani has
also recently returned from a path-breaking trip to Mecca and Medina. She had
gone there to improve the Indian and Saudi government supported facilities for
Indian pilgrims on the Umra or Haj, required of devout Muslims at least once in
their lifetime. She was received warmly by the Saudi clerics and authorities, despite
being sent out to do what was seen as a ‘man’s job’.
But the
whole question of gender equity and equality has had a chequered career in
India so far. The government recognises the problems associated with it, and
has attacked it at various levels including banning gender determination using
sonograms at the pre-birth stage, and the crime of infant matricide/ patricide
of female children. Later in the trajectory, people are exhorted to educate
girl children. The process is working, as gender ratios and school statistics
bear out, but there is a long way to go towards equal participation in the work
force.
Meanwhile,
India boasts of female fighter pilots trained to fly the supersonic Rafale,
female commercial pilots, policewomen, soldiers, lawyers, doctors, teachers,
judges in the higher judiciary.
And yet,
only 27% odd of women have joined the work force so far, with many dropping out
after a spell to take the remainder to depressing single digits. The old
patriarchal attitudes persist, making it very hard for them and thereby wasting
a massive human resource.
However, by
using a global platform at Davos and the support the initiative has garnered,
it is clear that this lack of gender equity and equality is a global phenomenon.
Women are simply not considered for many jobs. Many avenues of learning are
closed to them. They do not get equal pay or terms of contract. And this in
advanced Western countries. The plight of women in Islamic countries is much
worse, with Afghanistan under the Taliban or Iran under the Ayatollahs
providing the most extreme cases.
The
important thing is that India seeks to not only grow itself but change the
inequities and maladjustments elsewhere. This gender initiative is another step
in this direction. With a dozen Indian lounges at the 54th Global
Summit at Davos, it featured prominently at the five day jamboree. Many of the
Indian states such as Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka competed
for attention with Indian AI and technology giants such as Wipro, Infosys, TCS
and HCL Tech.
There were
three union ministers present, as many chief ministers, and a contingent of
Indian CEOs.
India has
moved on from showcasing its exotica as ‘Incredible India’, to projecting a
lucrative and viable ‘Credible India’ – a preferable investment destination.
That it also has a message or two for the world can only be seen as a bonus.
(1,194 words)
January
20th, 2024
For:
Firstpost/News18.com
Gautam
Mukherjee
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