India is becoming a major player in global affairs, Indian Minister for External Affairs K. Natwar Singh told a capacity crowd in Sayles Hall Friday in a speech titled "The Argument for India." The talk was the first in a series of lectures on India organized by the Watson Institute for International Studies.
Singh's talk was financed by the Brown-India Fund and the Watson Institute, and highlighted the increasing importance of India's economic, political and social role in the regional and international arena. The speech was Singh's only major public address during his visit to the United States as part of the Indian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
With over one billion people, India is the largest democracy in the world, holds a rich cultural heritage and sustains harmonious relations among various factions, Singh said. "Crisis management is India's forte," he said, later adding that he was "the product of three civilizations - Hindu, Muslim and European."
India is a "political miracle," Singh said, as Indian citizens, 84 percent of whom are Hindus, have willingly elected their leaders from minority groups.
India has a democratically elected president who is Muslim, representing 12 percent of the Indian population and a prime minister who is Sikh, representing 2 percent. The leader of the ruling Congress party is Christian.
Singh put an emphasis on the need for the Western world to understand the Muslim world. He also suggested that the world should look to India as an example of peaceful coexistence among various religions.
A common problem within the international community is its tendency to let "Islamaphobia" take root, Singh said. He warned that if this indeed occurs, the world is in for a "bumpy ride." He emphasized the need to understand Islam and learn to coexist with it instead.
Singh said India's economic reforms have allowed new growth and its "economic progress is irreversible." The country is witnessing an economic growth of 8 percent and has a "world-class group of engineers and scientists," he said. The continued surge of the information technology industry, competitive businesses and entrepreneurship is setting a path for "incremental, natural and harmonious growth."
India's growth is also spurring similar trends in other neighboring countries, Singh said. Sri Lanka is posting economic growth despite civil strife and continued recovery from the tsunami last December, and Bhutan is benefiting economically from India's growing need for natural resources. "Within South Asia, India is the power of growth," he said.
As finance minister in 1991, the current Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, instigated necessary economic reforms, leading to significant growth in the last decade, K. Natwar Singh said.
India's foreign exchange reserves have risen from $2 billion to $161 billion, Singh said. He said literacy rates have also increased nationwide, with some areas in South India at 100 percent. He stated that this is the basis for India becoming a key player in global affairs in the future.
To sustain growth, India must find secure, reliable and sustainable energy resources, forming partnerships with other nations, Singh said.
Singh also noted the strengthening ties between India and the United States on economic and defense issues. Recently, the two countries agreed to cooperate in nuclear programs.
Regarding Pakistan-India relations, Singh stressed the lessening of tensions in the last 16 months, praising both countries' leaders. He highlighted imminent changes that reflect the new relationship, such as the renewed bus service and railway lines between the two countries that will begin in January. He emphasized that no hatred or ill will exists between the two parties.
Singh stressed the growing need for the United Nations to implement reforms, indicating that this was his primary reason for visiting the United States. The G4 - India, Germany, Japan and Brazil - are demanding permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, circulating a draft resolution that calls for an expansion of the Council, with six new entrants who have veto powers and four alternating members.
In the question-answer session, Singh refused to comment on the internal affairs of the country. However, he did add humor to the session, joking about outsourcing by simply saying, "I really like it."
Singh stated that India allows for free intellectual debate, which exists due to moderation and preference for the middle path. He also said as a growing nation India is "making mistakes but learning from mistakes."
Audience members said that the growing importance of India in world politics and economics attracted them to the lecture. Indian politics is an "interesting foreign IR concept," and was particularly interesting coming from a "distinguished foreign international," said Jay Rowan '08.
Norman and Zulette Catier, a Providence couple, came to hear Singh's views on India's status among global powers. "We are very interested in India because of its importance in the future," Norman Catier said.
Sehr Charania '07 found Singh's remarks on "Islam-aphobia" particularly pertinent to the current social and political climate. "Singh's recommendation of becoming more educated in the socio-religious practices of various groups, I thought, provided an effective solution to the highly complex problem of group stigmatization," she said.
