Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Mar 27: "In certain moments in time, the course of the nation or the civilization changes. One such course was in 1991 when the soviet union collapsed, we moved from the bipolar world to the unipolar world. Later, America's unipolar movement that we thought would go on forever, lasted 17 years and in the 2008 crisis more or less convinced the Russians, the Chinese, and the Americans that their leadership was over," Shakti Sinha, IAS officer, former principal secretary to PM of India.
He was speaking during the session on the topic 'Post Pandemic Narratives: Reimaging the Indian Way' at the third edition of Mangaluru Lit Fest 2021 held at Ocean Pearl here on Saturday, March 27.
"Covid again represents some such moments like this. There are complications, there are no clear lines in the world, there are no superpowers that can ram their way through. China showcased its emergence in different ways, by stamping on people's toes, grabbing their land, creating the land in the oceans, and militarizing them. But now for the first time, India is also stepping up and putting forth things, which did not happen in the past. This time India agreed that contentious issues concerning China and South China should cease. In the past, we very hesitant about it. The moment for India to be hesitant is now over. India is now a big country. If India would not have pushed the Paris agenda, we would not have a climate deal that day. India played a prominent role in it and the Indian sense of responsibility. Though our per capita much lower, India a large country, we cannot allow the country and the world to pollute," Sinha said.
"The kind of disruption we had from last year was unprecedented. We went into the very strongest lockdown in the world, which was required. At that moment, the lockdown was the only option. Again we are facing uncertainty with the second wave of covid. Today the world is facing various crises like domestic, economic, social, political and international. India is now ready to step up, we saw it in the vaccine process. We ready to cater to people's needs."
"To show patience and firmness effectively is very difficult, but it is possible to do it without becoming aggressive. As vaccine diplomacy has shown, can we step up to develop engagement along with developing countries? At the same time maintaining a good relationship with developed countries is also important. India is now offering the way to the world. It is quite different from Britain, Germany, the US and China emerged. You can see India is emerging as a peace-loving nation, but not passive."
Dignitaries Shakti Sinha, Dr Nandakishore MS, HOD, GIR, MAHE, Manipal, Suneel Puranik, chairman, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, Dr BV Vasanth Kumar, chairman Kannada Sahitya Academy, Dr Girish Bhat Ajakakkala, chairman Kuvempu Basha Bharati inaugurated the fest.
Vikram Sood, former chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), professor, Madhava Nalapat, chairman, UNESCO chair, MAHE, Dr Dattesh D Prabhu-Parulekar, Goa University Panjim were present as panellists virtually.
Dr Nandakishore MS, HOD, GIR, MAHE, Manipal were the moderator for the panel discussion during session 1.
Sunil Kulkarni of Mangaluru Literary Foundation welcomed the dignitaries.