New Delhi, September 12 (Daily Kiran) : Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh emphasized the connections between the ongoing 18th BRICS summit and the historic Bandung Conference of 1955. Speaking in New Delhi, he stated that the expanded BRICS group embodies the spirit of collaboration established by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, alongside other Asian and African leaders.
In a post on the social media platform X, Ramesh shared an excerpt from the newly released BRICS New Delhi Declaration, linking it to the legacy of the Bandung Conference. He acknowledged the contributions of leaders such as Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser and Indonesia’s Sukarno in shaping the conference’s ideals.
Ramesh noted that the Bandung Conference aimed to carve out an independent path for Asian and African nations, distinct from the competing Western and Soviet blocs. This initiative ultimately led to the Non-Aligned Movement.
He described the current expanded BRICS as a modern, resource-rich, and influential manifestation of that cooperative spirit, grounded in principles of equality and mutual benefit.
The New Delhi Declaration’s Paragraph 16 recalls the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung, highlighting principles such as equality, freedom, non-intervention, and mutual benefit. It states that the spirit of Bandung continues to serve as a reference point for efforts toward a more just, inclusive, and representative multilateral system.
Ramesh also referenced personal notes written by Nehru during the Bandung Conference on April 22, 1955, mentioning a recent article by historian Vineet Thakur that analyzes Nehru’s notes, doodles, and thoughts during the historic event.
In a light-hearted conclusion, Ramesh quoted the popular song from the 1966 Hindi film “Mera Saaya,” suggesting that the spirit of Bandung remains relevant in contemporary multilateral diplomacy.
His comments indicate that Congress views BRICS not merely as a group of emerging economies, but as a continuation of long-standing efforts for a fairer global order. By linking the New Delhi Declaration to Nehru’s vision and the principles of the Bandung Conference, Ramesh positioned the current BRICS summit as a significant step towards greater equality and representation in the global landscape.
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