Padma Shri Prof. Amitabh Mattoo highlights India's growing influence at g-20 in keynote address at Central University of Kashmir workshop

• CUKashmir holds workshop on ‘G-20 Delhi Declaration: Opportunities and Challenges’

GANDERBAL: Dean and Professor, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and recipient of Padma Shri Award, Prof. Amitabh Mattoo Thursday said, the Presidency of G-20 has given New Delhi the weight and influence that India has rarely experienced in its contemporary history.

“The G-20 summit demonstrated India’s convening power, and its ability to generate a consensus at a platform (whose genesis may have been in the financial crises), but today is arguably the most important forum engaged with the globe’s most consequential problems,” Prof. Mattoo, said in his keynote address during a National Workshop on “G-20 Delhi Declaration: Opportunities and Challenges,” organised by the Department of Economics, School of Social Sciences, Central University of Kashmir in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) research project of Dr. Pratip Chattopadhyay.

Dean Academic Affairs (DAA), Prof. Shahid Rasool, Dean School of Social Sciences, Prof. Fayaz Ahmad Nikka, Head Deptt of Political Science, Kalyani University, Dr. Pratip Chattopadhyay, Professor of American Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, Prof. Chintamani Mahapatra, Professor School of International Studies, JNU, Prof. Arvind Kumar, former head Deptt of Political Science, University of Kashmir, Prof. Gul Muhammad Wani, Head Deptt of Social Work, KU, Prof. Shazia Manzoor, Dean School of Engineering and Technology IUST, Dr Kaiser Javed Giri, CEO, Rahim Motors, Mr. Abdul Hamid, Editor Brighter Kashmir, Mr. Farooq Wani, Heads and Coordinators of departments, faculty members, research scholars and students were present on the occasion.

In his welcome address, DAA, Prof. Shahid Rasool, said, “India’s G-20 Presidency, provided the country an excellent opportunity  and brought it central to global politics and trade. The way the Presidency was conducted, demonstrated to the world our country’s potential and prospects in shaping global peace and development.”

He said the Delhi Declaration, a comprehensive document covering all issues facing the world, including some very critical and controversial current geopolitical issues, also shows our diplomatic strength to successfully deal with global concerns. Prof. Shahid Rasool added that the CUKashmir under the guidance of Vice Chancellor, Prof A Ravinder Nath conducted around 50 programmes under G-20 University Connect -Engaging the young minds and discussing the problems faced by the people across the globe threadbare.

In his Presidential address, Dean School of Social Sciences, Prof. Fayaz Ahmad Nikka, congratulated the department for organising an academic discourse on G-20 declaration and said the objective of the G-20 forum is to promote economic development across the globe and minimise the geo-political tensions, engulfing certain parts of the world. “To make the world a better and happy place, peace has to prevail in all the regions,” Prof. Nikka said, adding that India, as an emerging global power, can play a pivotal role in helping negotiate peace between warring factions in the conflict-ridden zones. He said the Delhi declaration is pivotal as it seeks to balance economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability on a global scale.

Prof. Chintamani Mahapatra, said the declaration underscores the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation. He said the event provided a platform to the global leaders to address pressing issues like climate change, economic inequality, and geopolitical tensions.

Prof. Arvind Kumar, said the Declaration encourages member states to work together on issues like global health, trade, and security, fostering a more collaborative approach to solving global challenges. The Declaration represents a significant step forward in addressing global challenges through a unified approach.

Earlier, the Head Department of Economics, Dr. Masroor Ahmad said, the G-20 was the defining event for India and the slogan “Vasudhaiva Kutumkabam” exemplifies a typical Indian melding of tradition and contemporary concerns. He said that today’s programme is in addition to the series of events organised by the CUKashmir in connection with the India’s G-20 Presidency. Later on, technical sessions were held in which the speakers discussed lifestyle for sustainable development, women led development and artificial intelligence.