On 9th November 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the logo for India’s G20 presidency. The logo draws inspiration from the vibrant colours of India’s national flag – saffron, white and green, and blue. It depicts planet Earth with the lotus; India’s national flower that reflects growth amid challenges. The theme of India’s G20 Presidency – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth One Family One Future” – is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life – human, animal, plant, and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.
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.
According to PM Modi, the Indian philosophy of monism (Advaita) reflects the belief in the essential unity of all living beings. “This school of thought can provide a way out of the conflicts and dilemmas which are rife in the contemporary world. The choice of logo and the theme represents India’s effort to promote to reinforce the Buddha’s message of peace and Gandhian resistance to violence,” he further added that the symbol of lotus in the G20 logo — a choice made on the basis of suggestions from people, represents hope at the time of crisis and chaos in the world. He stressed that “The world is going through the after-effects of a disruptive once-in-a-century pandemic, conflicts and a lot of economic uncertainty. The symbol of the lotus in the G20 logo is a representation of hope in these times. No matter how adverse the circumstances, the lotus still blooms. Even if the world is in a deep crisis, we can still progress and make the world a better place”. The logo of G20 is not just a symbol but a message. “In Indian culture, goddesses of both knowledge and prosperity are seated on a lotus. This is what the world needs the most today— shared knowledge that helps us overcome our circumstances, and shared prosperity that reaches the last person at the last mile,” said the PM. “That is why, in the G20 logo, the earth is placed on a lotus too.”
India will assume the presidency of the powerful G20 grouping from the current chair, Indonesia, on December 1, and hold the post for a year. The G20 Leaders’ Summit at the level of Heads of State/Government is scheduled to be held on September 9 and 10, 2023 in New Delhi.
