G20 Summit: Understanding the theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and its links to ancient India

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said the theme for India’s G20 presidency, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future,” is a global roadmap for sustainable, inclusive and human-centric development. One of the most important events of the year is being held at the newly built international convention and exhibition centre, Bharat Mandapam at Delhi’s Pragati Maidan, on 9 and 10 September. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), President Murmu said, “A warm welcome to all Heads of Delegations of the G20 nations, Guest countries, and International Organisations participating in the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi.” “India’s G20 Presidency theme, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future’, is a global roadmap for sustainable, inclusive, and human-centric development. I wish the participants of G20 Summit every success in their efforts towards realising this vision.”

A warm welcome to all Heads of Delegations of the G20 nations, Guest countries, and International Organisations participating in the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi.

India's G20 Presidency theme, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - One Earth, One Family, One Future’, is a global roadmap for…

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 9, 2023

India on 1 December 2022 assumed the presidency of the G20 from Indonesia – an honour it will hold until 30 November 2023. Also read: India's big G20 moment has arrived: What to expect from Day 1 What does it mean? In November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of a trip to Bali, said India’s G20 presidency would be grounded in the ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ theme. As per the G20 website, the theme comes from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. It affirms the value of all life – human, animal, plant, and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe. [caption id=“attachment_13101462” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan. ANI[/caption] The theme also spotlights LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), with its associated, environmentally sustainable and responsible choices, both at the level of individual lifestyles as well as national development, leading to globally transformative actions resulting in a cleaner, greener and bluer future. The G20 says its logo is inspired by the colours of India’s national flag – saffron, white and green, and blue. It juxtaposes planet Earth with the lotus, India’s national flower that reflects growth amid challenges. The Earth reflects India’s pro-planet approach to life, one in perfect harmony with nature.  Below the G20 logo is “Bharat”, written in the Devanagari script. Also read: G20 Summit: How much money was spent on Delhi? What role does it play in the Summit? According to the G20 website, “The logo and the theme together convey a powerful message of India’s G20 Presidency, which is of striving 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. They represent a uniquely Indian approach to our G20 Presidency, of living in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem.” For India, the G20 Presidency also marks the beginning of “Amritkaal”, the 25-year period beginning from the 75th anniversary of its Independence on 15 August 2022, leading up to the centenary of its independence, towards a futuristic, prosperous, inclusive and developed society, distinguished by a human-centric approach at its core. The website Civil20.net explains that ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ is no utopian ideal. “It can be considered as a universal maxim whose purpose is not imposition, but to enable mutual respect and evolve human consciousness and society. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is the most practical way to ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger’ as expressed by the G20 Indonesia 2022. It helps us move from an “I-Them” approach to an “I-We” approach. It also fosters a Dharma-based society where the strong protects the weak, where giving precedes taking and where rights and responsibilities are synchronous,” the website states. Speaking about the theme in a press briefing ahead of the G20 Summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is in the country for the crucial leaders meeting, said, “I welcome the focus on ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. This phrase inspired by the Maha Upanishad finds profound resonance in today’s world: not just as a timeless ideal – but as an indictment of our times.” [caption id=“attachment_13099482” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A G20-themeD installation put up at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan. PTI[/caption] Guterres noted that if the world is indeed one global family, it is now resembling a rather dysfunctional one. “Divisions are growing, tensions are flaring up, and trust is eroding, which together raise the spectre of fragmentation, and ultimately confrontation. This fracturing would be deeply concerning in the best of times, but in our times, it spells catastrophe,” he added. At around 10.30 the first session of the G20 Summit: ‘One Earth’ will take place. This session will focus on accelerating climate action through increased mitigation and strengthening the agenda of global net zero emission as soon as possible – a subject of disagreement among the leaders. After the conclusion of the ‘One Earth’ session, and followed by lunch, another session of ‘One Family’ would be conducted at 3.00 p.m. as a part of the Summit. The Indian PM will also host a “working lunch” for the leaders of state. Also read: Who are G20 sherpas and why are they crucial to the success of this summit? Why is China irked by the theme? According to The Economic Times, China has voiced it opposition to the phrase and its use in the official documents during G20 Energy Ministerial Meeting as well as several other similar G20 documents. The opposition stemmed from the fact that the phrase – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – was Sanskrit, which is not one of the six official languages recognised by the United Nations. The six official languages of the UN are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Beijing’s opposition to the addition of the phrase in the G20 documents continued even though other participating nations lent its support to New Delhi, and some even observing that the theme was the prerogative of the Presidency and host nation. Eventually, the final G20 document – Outcome Document and Chair’s Summary for Energy transition, only carried the English translation of the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam but was retained in the logo/letterhead of each document. It read: “We, the G20 Energy Ministers, met under India’s G20 Presidency, with the theme ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ in Goa, India, on 22 July 2023.” And it’s not just the energy meeting document that has dropped the Sanskrit phrase. A majority of the Outcome documents so far, including the finance ministers meeting, the education ministers meet, the tourism, environment and labour and unemployment, all mention ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ as the Indian presidency’s theme in the official text, skipping the phrase ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. As per the ET report, only the foreign minister’s Outcome document carries the Sanskrit phrase. Also read: Russia-Ukraine war, climate change: Two major sticking points at G20 What do experts say? Takeo Konishi, country director of India Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank, in a piece, noted that “India is crucial to forming a consensus to address global challenges,” adding “New Delhi is critical to ’tailoring global solutions.” An article in The Economic Times opined that India has no better opportunity to lead the G20 through ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. “We live on a bruised and contaminated earth, fighting the virus, war, inflation, learning poverty, global warming, and loss of income and employment, all at the same time. Never was there so much despair with oil and gas prices hitting the roof and economies at a loss regarding debt and revival post-recession. It is a ‘second coming moment’,” it stated. A report in India Today noted that the maxim is also engraved at the entry of the Indian Parliament’s Central Hall. “The 5000-year-old Indian civilisation is quintessential of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, India being home to all the four major religions of the world, a melting pot of various beliefs, ideologies, ethnicities, cultures, food habits, dress sense, values.” The article quoted former vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu as saying, “Our ancient society built on Sanatana Dharma accommodated people from all faiths, and in fact, the majority community through centuries has been an insular force in preventing religious conflicts between other groups”. He further opines that it is a living example of our ancient belief of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or humanity is one family, in all its rich diversity. The G-20, or Group of 20, is an intergovernmental forum of major developed and developing economies. It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and nations under the European Union (EU). The G-20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation representing around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world’s population. With inputs from agencies Follow for live updates: G20 Summit 2023 LIVE Updates: PM Modi addresses G20 opening session