G20 – One earth, one family, one future- Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam…A Time to Prove that the World is Indeed One Family!
Symbiosis was established in 1971. Even as a young girl, I witnessed the coming together of cultures! I have grown up to have foreign students staying at our home if they felt homesick in Pune. My parents Dr. S. B. Mujumdar and Mrs. Sanjeevani Mujumdar were kind and empathetic towards them. The whole endeavour of establishing Symbiosis was not only to give a ‘home away from home’ for these foreign students but ensuring that our Indian students and foreign students are brought together through the medium of education, for a larger cause of promoting the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. This was the motto given to Symbiosis by Dr Mujumdar, 50 years ago, in 1971 when he founded Symbiosis. I realise the impact and depth of it even more now. As countries are becoming more nationalistic and there is so much hatred and unrest, the importance of Vasudhaiva Kuttumbakam cannot be over emphasized!
It gives me great pride and pleasure, that the motto of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One earth, one family, one future has been coined as the theme by our Hon’ble Prime Minister for the G20 Summit 2023 in India. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is a Sanskrit phrase found in Hindu texts such as the Maha Upanishad, which means “The World Is One Family”. This Vedic tradition mentions “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” meaning all living beings on the earth are a family. At Symbiosis foreign students come from 85 countries of the world and across all states of India study together, live together and play together. In this way, we promote and practice the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam amongst these youngsters.
India’s presidency for G20 began on 1 December 2022. It is indeed an opportunity for India to contribute effectively in promoting the agenda of G20 and we as Indians are proud to have this opportunity.
The Group of Twenty (G20) countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States and the European Union represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. Our G20 Presidency, aims to strive for just and equitable growth for all in the world, as we navigate through these turbulent times, in a sustainable, holistic, responsible, and inclusive manner. It is indeed a unique Indian approach to our G20 Presidency, which preaches living in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem.
Through collective efforts I am sure that we as a country with a large young population will be able to facilitate this motto and its effects will be felt for several years to come.