GLOBAL South is not just a geographical arena, but a concept seeking a redefined global order so that “large parts of the world cannot be left behind”, as stressed by Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar at the high-level meeting of the United Nations’ General Assembly. Actually, this concern has been bothering those nations who have the capacity to look beyond the immediate details of international realpolitik dominated mostly by a handful of Western powers and their likes. Championing the cause of those countries -- in geographical Global South, India has been steering the cause of the nations in urgent need of developmental dose. Dr. Jaishankar’s speech at the UNGA meeting highlighted what more than half of the world requires at this stage.

 

The speech, thus, can be considered a document of growth for the nations that have happened to lag behind others in the past fifty-odd years. Dr. Jaishankar, once again, proved that he is the country’s most appropriate advocate promoting what he himself calls international ethos and multilateralism. What has made a positive difference in this pro-Global South drive is India’s practical commitment to the cause -- that got underlined at the G-20 Summit under India’s presidency. India pitched for the inclusion of South African Union as the 21st member of the G-20 conglomeration, and ensured that all other members accepted the proposal. Of course, much diplomacy must have gone on behind the scenes before that proposal got accepted, all right. But it is to be noted that India has often championed the cause of the under-dogs -- which almost whole of African continent has been. Hence the inclusion of South African Union as the 21st member of the G-20 grouping. However, the reality of growth and development of Global South is so stark that inclusion of the South African Union representing several countries can be taken only as a symbolism -- still far away from the realisation of comprehensive gowth goals.

 

This was the thrust of Dr. Jaishankar’s assertion when he asked for “an effective and efficient UN, a more representative UN, and a UN for for purpose in the contemporary era ...”. Thanks to India’s courageous leadership of the cause, the larger world is not in a position to ignore what India says as an advocate of growth of Global South. True, India is a growth model for everyone to follow, he said. However, any such forward thrust would need a reformed United Nations whose representative status is enhanced by inclusion of Global South into the growth discourse of the world, he meant to say. The world did take note of what Dr. Jaishankar said -- for two reasons: one, he is voicing the core concern of India’s international thought-process; and two, he is Dr. Jaishankar, the diplomat par excellence who seems to have everybody on his side -- on India’s side. This is the actual purpose of diplomacy -- pushing an idea patiently and persistently until it reaches its desired destination.

 

The signs of the success of India’s pro-global-south diplomacy are now visible. The world appears to be taking India seriously on every and any issue. And when the discourse turns to Global South, India’s amplification of the issue becomes all the more prominent. This is the difference India has been able to make -- with Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi personally spearheading the cause. Dr. Jaishankar’s speech was in complete consonance with the Prime Minister’s diplomacy. It is obvious that the larger world will not be able to keep India out of central discourse of the United Nations, and the indications came from Dr. Jaishankar’s statement of intent.