India, 2014

At the outset, I would like

to congratulate you, Sir, on your election as President

of the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session.

It is a truly a great honour for me to address the

Assembly for the first time as Prime Minister of India.

I am humbled by the hopes and expectations of the

people of India. I am also mindful of the expectations

of the world from our 1.25 billion people.

My country, India, is home to one sixth of

the world’s population. It is a nation experiencing

economic and social transformation on a scale rarely

seen in the history of the world. Every country’s world

view is shaped by its civilization and its philosophical

traditions. India’s ancient wisdom sees the world as one

family, and when I say this, I wish to make it clear that

each country has its philosophy. I am not talking about

ideology. With the inspiration of that philosophy, a

country marches ahead. India is a country that since its

Vedic times, has been saying that the world, the entire

globe, is a family. India is a country where, beyond

nature, we have a communication, a dialogue, with

nature. We never struggle with nature. That is a part

of Indian life. The reason is that with that philosophy,

India has been moving forward. Each country and each

nation is shaped by its civilization and its philosophical

tradition. India’s ancient wisdom, as I have said, sees

the world as one family. India is a country that not only

speaks for itself but for worldwide justice, dignity,

opportunity and prosperity. We have always spoken out

in support of such issues.

Owing to our ideology, we have a firm belief in

multilateralism. Today, as I stand here, I am equally

aware of the hopes and expectations that are pinned on

the General Assembly. I am struck by the sacred belief

that brought us together. We established the Organization

on the basis of great principles and perspectives, in the

belief that if our futures are connected, we will have to

work together for peace and security, for human rights

and for the economic development of all. We must work

together to those ends. At that time, there were only

51 countries. Today, 193 sovereign flags fly in front of

this building. Each new country enters on the basis of

the same belief and expectation.

In the past six decades, we have been able to achieve

a great deal. We have ended many wars. We have

established and maintained peace. We have assisted

economic development in many places. We have helped

to build a future for poor children. We have contributed

towards the elimination of starvation and strived to

save our planet. The 69 United Nations peacekeeping

missions have made the Blue Helmet a symbol of peace

in the world.

Today, there is a surge of democracy across the

world. The peaceful democratic transformation in

Afghanistan shows that the Afghan people’s aspiration

for peace will definitely triumph over violence. We

have seen Nepal emerge from war towards peace and

democracy. Bhutan’s young democracy is flourishing.

There are also efforts towards democracy in West Asia

and North Africa. Tunisia’s success shows that such a

path of democracy is possible. In Africa, there is a new

momentum for stability, peace and progress, and a new

awareness is on the horizon.

We have seen unprecedented prosperity in Asia and

beyond founded on strengthened peace and stability.

Latin America, a continent of enormous potential, is

coming together in the shared pursuit of stability and

prosperity. That continent may prove to be an important

anchor for the global community. India looks forward to

a peaceful and stable environment for its development.

Our future is linked to our neighbourhood. That is why,

from the very first day, my Government gave the highest

priority to promoting friendship and cooperation with

our neighbouring countries.

I have the same policy towards Pakistan. I want

to hold serious bilateral talks with Pakistan in order

to improve friendship and cooperation in a peaceful

atmosphere, without the shadow of terrorism. I want

to hold bilateral talks with that country. However, it

is also Pakistan’s responsibility to come forward and

to genuinely establish the appropriate atmosphere for

bilateral talks. In raising that issue in this forum, I do

not know how successful our efforts will be. Some

people are doubtful.

Today, we need to assist the victims of the floods

in Kashmir. In India, we have organized large-scale

assistance. We have not stopped at only India helping

Kashmir. We have also asked Pakistan to assist, since

that area was also affected by the floods. We have told

Pakistan that just as we were helping the flood victims

in India, we would also like to help those in Pakistan.

We have proposed that. We are a part of the developing

world but have limited resources. We would like to

share our modest resources with all those who are in

dire need of assistance.

Today, the world is witnessing a high level of

tension and turmoil. There are no major wars, but

tension and conflict abound. There is an absence of

peace and uncertainty about the future. Even today,

there is rampant poverty everywhere. The Asia-Pacific

region, which is integrating, is still concerned about

maritime security. That is fundamental to its future.

Europe faces a new threat of division. In West Asia,

the dividing lines and terrorism are increasing. In our

own region, we are still struggling to combat terrorism

and instability. For the past four decades, we have faced

such a threat.

Terrorism emerges in new forms and under new

names. Be it small or large, in the North, the South,

the East or the West, no country is free from threats.

I remember when I met with world leaders 20 years

ago, and we talked about terrorism. They did not quite

understand it and stated that it was a law-and-order

problem. Today, the entire world is witness to the slow

spread of terrorism far and wide.

Are we really making integrated efforts at the

international level to fight against those powerful

groups? I know that terrorism is a very serious problem

for discussion. Even today, some countries are giving

refuge to international terrorists, and they consider

terrorism a tool of their policy. Good terrorism and bad

terrorism — that is what we hear these days. At this

time, there is a question mark regarding our struggle to

fight against terrorism. The brutal return of terrorism

in West Asia and its impact on countries far and near

has elicited a concerted effort, which we welcome.

However, the effort should involve all the countries of

the region. If we want to overcome terrorism, then they

must all contribute towards its eradication. We strongly

emphasize this.

Oceans, seas, space and cyberspace, besides

contributing to our common wealth and prosperity, are

becoming new theatres of conflict. In the same oceans

that used to connect us, we are today hearing news of

disputes. We once saw space as holding out potential

for our achievements. Today, in cyberspace, which

connects us in important areas, new dangers are being

seen. International harmony and cooperation — on

which the United Nations was founded — are needed

now more than ever before. Today, we talk about an

interdependent world, but have we become more united

as nations? We need to think about that.

Why, when we have a good forum like the United

Nations, do we keep creating so many different groups?

There is the Group of Four, the Group of Seven and

the Group of 20 — and the numbers keep changing.

Whether or not we really want to do so, we, including

India, become members of them. Is it not the time to

move on and leave behind those groups? When the

United Nations celebrates its seventieth anniversary,

how do we create a Group-of-All atmosphere? How can

the General Assembly create an opportunity to solve

all our problems? How can people begin to be more

trustful? How can we become less competitive? We talk

about unity, but then we divide the whole into different

parts and pieces. Can we prevent ourselves from doing

so?

On the one hand, we say that our policies are

interconnected; on the other, we think in terms of

zero-sum gains. We think that if the other benefits, I

stand to lose. Who receives the benefit and who suffers

the loss? That is what we appear to be weighing. The

pessimists are cynical. Like them, we are inclined to

say nothing will change. It is easy to be cynical and

to say nothing will change. But if we do that, we run

the risk of shirking our responsibilities and putting our

collective future in danger.

We must unite and prepare to meet the needs of our

times. We must really work for global peace. No one

country or group of countries can determine the course

of the world or its policies. It is imperative to have

genuine international participation and partnership. We

should try to promote positive dialogue and cooperation

among countries. Our efforts must begin at the United

Nations.

It is important that we improve the Security Council

by making it more democratic and participative.

Institutions that reflect the imperatives of the twentieth

century will not be effective in the twenty-first century.

They face the risk of irrelevance. I would like to

emphasize that the policies and rules we made in the

twentieth century may no longer be applicable. The

speed of change is very fast. It is therefore essential

that, in tune with the times, we adapt and reformulate,

making the necessary changes and introducing new

ideas. Only when we have done that will we be relevant.

We should set aside all our differences and mount

a concerted international effort to combat terrorism

and extremism. Towards that end, we should adopt a

comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

That is something which is long overdue. It must be

emphasized that our combined strength to fight against

terrorism should be reflected in the convention. Our

country, which has endured so many terrorist attacks,

knows that, so long as the United Nations fails to take

the initiative in that effort, and so long as we do not

adopt a convention, we cannot be successful. In such

work, we must not forget to make provision for peace,

stability and order in outer space and cyberspace. We

must work together to ensure that all countries observe

international rules and norms.

We must include the host countries and troop-

contributing countries in our decision-making on

United Nations peacekeeping. If they are included, their

confidence will increase considerably. They are ready

to make major sacrifices and to give their time and

energy. But if they are excluded from decision-making,

then how can United Nations peacekeeping become

more vital and urgent? We need to seriously consider

that. Today, let us redouble our efforts in pursuit of

global disarmament. Let us also spare no effort to

ensure that we work tirelessly towards those goals.

Globalization has created new industries and

sources of employment. At the same time, billions live

in the shadow of poverty. A great many countries are

suffering economic deprivation, barely keeping their

heads above water. What seems so difficult today was

never so difficult in the past. Technology has made many

things possible. Reduction in the cost of technology has

made it more widely available. If we think of the speed

with which Facebook or Twitter have spread around the

world and cell-phone use has proliferated, then we must

also believe that development and empowerment can

spread with the same speed.

It is up to each country to make its own efforts

at the national level. Each Government must fulfil its

responsibilities. International participation is also very

important. At one level, it requires better coordination

of policy, so that our efforts become mutually

supportive, not mutually damaging. It also means that,

when we craft agreements on international trade, we

accommodate one another’s concerns and interests.

Let us think about the scale of the need. Today,

basic sanitation is out of the reach of 2.5 billion people;

1.3 billion have no access to electricity and 1.1 billion

no access to drinking water. That makes it clear that

more comprehensive and concerted international action

is required. We cannot keep waiting for economic

development. In India, the most important aspects of

my development agenda are focused precisely on those

very issues, which should also be at the core of the post-

2015 development agenda, as they deserve our utmost

attention.

A world that is more habitable and sustainable is an

objective we must work towards. There has been much

debate and much written about that, but it takes only a

brief glance around our countries to become concerned.

We are very concerned indeed about issues relating to

forests, wildlife, birds, rivers, water sources and the

blue sky above.

I would like to address three points. First, if we

are to meet all of the challenges, we must fully uphold

our responsibilities. The global community has

agreed to work together on the basis of common but

differentiated responsibility. That must continue to be

the foundation of future action. That also means that

developed countries must fulfil their commitments in

terms of funding and technology transfer.

Secondly, national action is imperative. Technology

has made many things possible, such as renewable

energy. We need imagination and commitment. India

stands ready to share its technology and capabilities, as

for example through the recently announced free access

to a satellite.

Thirdly, we need to change our lifestyles. Avoiding

energy use is the cleanest option and would give a

new direction to our economy. For us in India, respect

for nature is fundamental and an integral part of

spiritualism. It is part of our ideology.

I would like to draw the Assembly’s attention to

another idea. When we talk of climate change, we are

also talking about holistic health care, connecting with

nature and going back to basics. Today, I would like

to underscore that yoga is an invaluable gift from our

ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and

body, thought and action. It is important to coordinate

all of those aspects. Such a holistic approach is valuable

to our health and our well-being. Yoga is not just about

exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness

with yourself, the world and nature. By changing our

lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can also help us

deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting

an international yoga day.

Finally, we are at a historic moment. Every age is

defined by its character and remembered for how it

rose to meet its challenges. Today, we are responsible

to rise and meet those challenges. Next year, the United

Nations will be 70 years old. We should ask ourselves

whether we should wait until we are 80 or 100 years

old to take action. I believe that next year will provide

an opportunity for the United Nations. After a voyage

spanning 70 years, we shall be able to look back and

review what we have achieved, whence we began,

why we left certain places, what motivated us, how

we proceeded and what we have attained. What are

the challenges facing us in the twenty-first century? If

we can keep all of that in mind, through exchanges of

views, dialogue with universities, and intergenerational

discussions with young people, who can contribute

ideas, then we will find the ways to connect all of those

things for future generations.

That is why I say that arriving at the milestone

of 70 years presents us with a great opportunity that

we should not waste. By taking full advantage of this

moment, we could achieve a new consciousness, a new

life, with new ambitions and aspirations. We could

give the journey of the United Nations a new form. I

therefore feel that 70 years is a great opportunity for

us. Let us come together and fulfil our promise to bring

improvements to the Security Council. That issue has

been before us for a long time, yet there has not been

much progress. We need to think very seriously about

it.

In preparing and implementing the post-2015

development agenda, let us come together to keep our

promises. For 2015, let us come together to give a new

direction and make the moment memorable by giving

the world a new lease on development. The year 2015

should be a banner year in history — a turning point

in history. I hope that we will all live up to its promise.