EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : The Rajghat Consensus

Source: Indian Express

• Prelims: Freedom struggle, role of Gandhi during freedom struggle, Gandhian phase, Delhi Declaration etc
• Mains GS Paper I & II: Freedom struggle(significant events), Gandhian phase, unity(communal harmony) etc

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

• The New Delhi G20 Declaration was the result of a remarkable diplomatic spadework led by India that got Russia, China and the West to agree to sign on a statement at a time when they agree on practically nothing

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context

Major Highlights of the New Delhi Declaration:

• Preamble: We are One Earth, One Family, and we share One Future.
• The consensus declaration called for “comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine”
• It urged member states to “refrain from the threat of use of force to seek territorial acquisition” or act against the territorial integrity of any state.
• The declaration stressed that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons to be “inadmissible”.
• Mention of Prime Minister’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment): A global plan of action that aims to save the planet from the disastrous consequences of climate change. “
• Strong, Sustainable, Balanced, and Inclusive Growth Global Economic Situation
• Unlocking Trade for Growth: A rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system, with WTO at its core.
• Adoption of G20 Generic Framework for Mapping Global Value Chains (GVC) to help members identify risks and build resilience.
• Preparing for the Future of Work: Addressing skill gaps, promoting decent work and ensuring inclusive social protection policies for all.
• Advancing Financial Inclusion: The 2023 Update to Leaders on Progress towards the G20 Remittance Target and endorse the Regulatory Toolkit for Enhanced Digital Financial Inclusion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Fighting Corruption: Commitment to zero tolerance for corruption.
  • Three G20 High-Level Principles on:
    • Strengthening Law Enforcement related International Cooperation and Information Sharing for Combating Corruption
    • Strengthening Asset Recovery Mechanisms for Combating Corruption
    • Promoting Integrity and Effectiveness of Public Bodies and Authorities responsible for Preventing and Combating Corruption.
  • Strengthening Global Health and Implementing One Health Approach: strengthening the global health architecture, with the World Health Organization (WHO) at its core
    • Building more resilient, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive health systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage
    • Implement One Health approach
    • enhance pandemic preparedness
    • strengthen existing infectious diseases surveillance systems.
  • Finance-Health Collaboration: Strengthening the global health architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR)
    • through enhanced collaboration between Finance and Health Ministries under the Joint Finance and Health Task Force (JFHTF).
  • Delivering Quality Education: Inclusive, equitable, high-quality education and skills training for all, including for those in vulnerable situations.
    • Recognize the importance of investment in supporting human capital development.
  • Culture as a Transformative Driver of SDGs: Full recognition and protection of culture with its intrinsic value as a transformative driver.
    • An enabler for the achievement of the SDGs and advance the inclusion of culture as a standalone goal in future discussions on a possible post-2030 development agenda.
  • Green Development Pact for a Sustainable Future: Recognising that the prosperity and well-being of present and future generations depends on our current development and other policy choices and actions
    • Resolve to pursue environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth and development in an integrated, holistic and balanced manner.
  • Macroeconomic risks stemming from climate change and transition pathways: The importance of international dialogue and cooperation, including in the areas of finance and technology, and timely policy action consistent with country-specific circumstances.
  • Designing a Circular Economy World:The critical role played by circular economy, extended producer responsibility and resource efficiency in achieving sustainable development.

The Rajghat Consensus:

• The agreement, among all leaders who stood in respectful silence, that Mahatma Gandhi’s values matter in 2023, more than 150 years after he was born.
• They matter today more than ever and that although these values are universal, there is also a unique, distinct Indian-ness about them.

Gandhian Values in today’s world:

• The self-effacement was part of the cause itself.
• The best of Bharat or India, the best of our humanity is what is epitomized by the Mahatma.
• Mahatma navigated us towards freedom
  • His idea of the individual’s role in society
  • The frailty of what it is to be human
  • The moral power of doubt
  • They are the enduring principles that define leadership and public service.
• Mahatma’s experiments with truth give us the perfect compass to find our way.
• His soft, tentative voice finds an echo down the ages, in ahimsa, peace, truth, swaraj, sarvodaya, and even sarva shiksha.
• French writer Romain Rolland: Mahatma’s manner was gentle and courteous even when dealing with adversaries. “He is modest and unassuming, Yet you feel his indomitable spirit.
• Mahatma was the consensus builder uncompromising in his integrity, yet deeply aware that he needed to bring warring sides together.
• PM formulation: “This is not an era for war,” finds such an echo because it draws strongly from the Mahatma’s code of non-violence.

Way Forward

• Mahatma’s moral compass brought all world leaders together in New Delhi.
• Albert Einstein described: “A leader of his people, unsupported by any outward authority, a politician whose successes rests not upon craft, not mastery of the technical devices, but simply on the convincing power of his personality, a victorious fighter, who had always scorned the use of force.
  • A man who has confronted the brutality of Europe with the dignity of the simple human being
  • Generations to come..will scarce believe that such a one as this even in flesh and blood walked upon the earth.”

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Many voices had strengthened and enriched the nationalist movement during the Gandhian phase. Elaborate.(UPSC 2019) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

How does Indian society maintain continuity in traditional social values? Enumerate the changes taking place in it.(UPSC 2021) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)