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India Today
09-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
How PM Modi's vision made India most-trusted ally and guiding light of Global South
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious five-nation tour from July 2-9 across Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia has crystallised India's emergence as the natural and most trusted ally of the Global historic journey, one of PM Modi's most extensive foreign engagements in a decade, reflects his vision of fostering South-South cooperation, securing critical resources, and advocating for a reformed global order that amplifies the voices of developing strategic agreements on rare earth minerals and defence, a powerful BRICS statement condemning terrorism, and a series of high-level engagements, PM Modi has not only deepened bilateral ties but also elevated India's stature as a beacon of hope and leadership for the Global South. His growing influence as a global statesman, underscored by prestigious state honours and his clarion call for equitable global governance, has positioned India as an unequivocal friend and guiding light for developing A new chapter in Afro-Indian tiesPM Modi's visit to Ghana, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in three decades, marked a historic milestone. His meetings with President John Dramani Mahama elevated bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, with a bold commitment to double trade within five years.A landmark agreement on rare earth mineral mining positioned Ghana as a cornerstone of India's mineral security strategy, vital for its electric vehicle and clean energy ambitions. This deal aligns with PM Modi's push to diversify critical mineral supply chains, reducing dependence on resources, PM Modi's address to the Ghanaian Parliament resonated deeply, emphasising shared democratic values and inviting lawmakers to visit India's new Parliament building. Agreements on traditional medicine, standards cooperation, and maritime security further strengthened ties, while PM Modi's vibrant interaction with Ghana's 15,000-strong Indian diaspora, marked by a musical welcome, reinforced cultural and Tobago: Celebrating shared heritageIn Trinidad and Tobago, where 40–45% of the population traces its roots to India, PM Modi's visit - the first in 25 years - celebrated 180 years of diaspora ties. Engaging with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, both of Indian descent, PM Modi deepened cultural and economic connections. The conferment of Trinidad and Tobago's highest civilian honour on PM Modi underscored his role in strengthening bilateral ties and global leadership. As the Caribbean's largest oil and gas producer, Trinidad and Tobago emerged as a key energy partner, with discussions focusing on hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and digital Modi's address to Parliament highlighted democracy as a shared way of life, reinforcing India's soft power through Ayurveda, yoga, and cultural diplomacy, while trade, valued at $341.61 million, gained new Tapping the Lithium TrianglePM Modi's visit to Argentina, the first in 57 years, was a game-changer for India's engagement with Latin America. Meeting President Javier Milei, PM Modi forged a strategic partnership centered on agriculture, energy, and critical part of the 'Lithium Triangle' with over half the world's lithium reserves, became a pivotal partner through a deal between India's Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) and Coal India, securing four lithium exploration concessions in Catamarca province with state-run agreement bolsters India's energy transition goals, ensuring a steady supply of lithium for batteries and clean technologies. Talks also explored defense manufacturing, space technology, telemedicine, and digital healthcare, leveraging India's expertise to support Argentina's economic reforms. This visit laid the foundation for a broader strategic alliance, positioning India as a reliable partner in the BRICS solidarity and strategic alignmentIn Brazil, PM Modi's dual engagement - attending the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro and a bilateral state visit to Braslia - deepened India's partnership with a key Global South ally. Discussions with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva covered trade ($12.2 billion), defense, renewable energy, space, and BRICS Summit delivered a powerful statement condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives. PM Modi's resolute call for a united global stance against terrorism, without political convenience, targeted nations like China that have obstructed UN sanctions on conferment of the 'Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross' on PM Modi highlighted his global stature. Strategically, Brazil's interest in India's Akash missile system and secure communication technologies, alongside talks on lithium and rare earths, underscored India's role in diversifying global supply chains. MoUs in renewable energy and agricultural research further cemented Modi's stature as a global statesmanPM Modi's tour has elevated him as a towering figure in global diplomacy, with his vision for a reformed world order resonating across the Global South. His addresses to the parliaments of Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago underscored democracy as a universal value and India's commitment to empowering developing Ghana, he called for reforms in global organisations to address modern challenges like climate change, terrorism, and cybersecurity, advocating for credible and effective governance. The global community is increasingly endorsing India's principled stand against terrorism, as evidenced by the BRICS Summit's unequivocal condemnation of the Pahalgam attack and growing international support for India's push for a comprehensive global framework to combat terrorism without double standards. This alignment reflects PM Modi's success in rallying nations around a zero-tolerance approach to the BRICS Summit, PM Modi's stance against the weaponisation of critical minerals struck a chord. He argued that strategic resources like lithium and rare earths should not be monopolised or used for geopolitical leverage - a direct challenge to China's export proposal for secure, equitable supply chains, backed by the Quad's mineral alliance and bilateral deals in Ghana, Argentina, and Namibia, positions India as a counterweight to China's dominance. The conferment of the highest state honours by Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil reflects PM Modi's ability to forge trust-based relationships with Global South accolades, coupled with his advocacy for the African Union's permanent G20 membership during India's presidency, underscore his commitment to amplifying marginalised voices. PM Modi's personal touch - engaging with diasporas, celebrating shared histories, and promoting yoga and Ayurveda - has amplified India's soft power, making it a cultural and moral force in the Global tie-ups and Global South leadershipPM Modi's tour has woven a tapestry of strategic partnerships, from defence deals with Brazil (Akash missile system) and Ghana (maritime security) to digital cooperation through UPI in Namibia. The focus on rare earth minerals across Ghana, Argentina, and Namibia aligns with India's ambition to lead in green technologies, while BRICS' unified stance against terrorism strengthens global security Modi's engagements with multilateral platforms like BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS, and CARICOM have positioned India as a bridge between emerging and developed economies, advocating for responsible AI, climate finance, and inclusive Ascendancy as the Global South's Guiding Light under PM Modi's visionary leadership, India has emerged as the unequivocal friend, ally, and guiding light of the Global South. His five-nation tour has not only secured critical resources and defense partnerships but also reinforced India's moral and strategic championing equitable global governance, countering the weaponisation of resources, and fostering trust through cultural and historical bonds, PM Modi has positioned India as a reliable partner in a multipolar world. As the Global South navigates complex challenges, India's rise under PM Modi's stewardship offers a model of inclusive growth, resilience, and solidarity, lighting the way for a more equitable future.(Tuhin A Sinha is a national spokesperson of the BJP, and an author)- Ends(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)Tune InMust Watch
Daily Maverick
04-07-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
Eat more atchar for atomic orange epicurean empowerment
In 'atchar alley', it's all about spiced green mango preserve. This is Station Road, Lenasia, which plays host to at least 30 atchar shops, all next door to each other. The term 'achar' is derived from the Hindi language word for spice-preserved fruit and/or vegetables. In KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, achar often retains its traditional Indian spelling and ingredient diversity in condiments such as kumquat achar, carrot achar and wedding achar. In the northern provinces, this definition no longer applies. When black South Africans from Limpopo, North West, Gauteng or Mpumalanga refer to atchar/ atchaar/ achaar (the spelling has mutated in multiple ways) they mean only the fabulously fiery, Afro-Indian relish made from green mangos topped with atomic orange-coloured oil. From henceforth let us call this fusion form 'Limpopo atchar' because this is probably where it was born and where most of the mangos used to make it grow. Somehow my fingers are most comfortable typing atchar with a 't', so Limpopo atchar it is. It is seldom if ever eaten with Indian or Indian diaspora cuisine, but is rather a staple of black South African street food. Soweto starches and proteins pop in the presence of Limpopo atchar. No plate of pap or kota-style sandwich is complete without this finger- and shirt-staining delicacy. Every corner café sells little red lid tubs at the till. Commuter hub vendors serving snacks from buckets offer it as an accompaniment. It is impossible to imagine mogodu Monday without this startlingly strong pick-me-up. I suspect that it is a mid-20th century culinary co-creation of Northern Transvaal Indian traders, Venda and Pedi people. Modern mangos of the kind sold in supermarkets have been selectively bred to be string-free, soft and super-sweet with a long shelf life. They are visually flawless but frequently fall flat in flavour. Many trees grown from seed over multiple generations by African subsistence farmers are the descendants of heritage cultivars. They are small and sometimes their skins are mottled. Their stringy texture makes them unsuitable for fruit salad, but these drawbacks are irrelevant when grated or chopped fine for atchar. Their ebullient combination of acidity, sweetness and subtle bitterness is magnificent when processed into pickles. The basic recipe for Limpopo atchar contains green mangos, white vinegar, garlic, chillies, mustard seeds or powder, sunflower oil and atchar masala. This sounds simple but actually every individual maker has their own masala mix. In 1950 the apartheid regime's Group Areas Act designated Lenasia, southwest of Johannesburg, for occupation by those they classified as Indian. These days the area is occupied by all sorts of South Africans. Station Road, Lenasia (aka 'atchar alley') plays host to at least 30 atchar shops, all next door to each other. They all sell the component parts for atchar makers to combine at home into their own secret sauce. It is like Build a Bear but oily and intensely aromatic. In a country where almost all royal coronations are contested, it should come as no surprise that there are two, independently owned Atchar Kings trading mere metres apart. Actually, it is one Achaar King (three As and no T) and one Atchar King (two As, one T) but there is definitely a gourmet game of thrones meets Zulu monarch succession dispute vibe. Huge plastic bags filled with pre-grated green mango (with and without garlic) are piled high. Thousands of different mango masalas compete for customer attention with row upon row of vibrant colourants and oils. Some of the more vibrant red colourants seem deeply dodgy. Every trader tells you that only his spice blends will hit the hotspot. Desperate for old-school Limpopo atchar but too lazy to make it yourself or even walk to the corner café? Order online from Lelo's Tasty Foods. This chunky textured, orange and oily atchar is made in the Motherland (Giyani) and is eat-with-a spoon straight-out-of-the-bucket brilliant. It costs R80 for 360g and comes in three flavours: Super-hot, hot and mild. Feeling fancy? The inverted snob in me wanted to dislike Nayi Le Achaar. The label describes the product as 'atchar paté' which irritated me. Well, actually, it says patè with the accent incorrectly pointing in the grave direction rather than in the acute line, which irritated me some more. For a while, I really enjoyed myself being simultaneously regular snob and inverted snob, but then I was forced to eat my (many, many) snotty comments because this smooth textured condiment tastes great. Despite coming in jalapeño, piquanté, feta, garlic and ginger, rosemary and olive and lemon flavours it somehow manages to retain a Limpopo-ish essence. It costs between R80 and R100 for 440g at Johannesburg's supersmart Prison Break Market, via the website and at Makro. What about the widely held anxiety that eating it makes for smelly armpits? Scientists say that all atchar (whether super smart or corner café classic) will be excreted through sweat glands, but no more than any other garlic- and spice-containing condiment. So, what are you waiting for? Eating atchar tastes great and supports local livelihoods. There are no statistics on the social and economic impact of small-scale atchar sales, but my guess is that they are second only to scones and magwinya as a method of raising money to put the children of single mothers through school and university.
