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Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus on development and inclusive growth was widely appreciated by the audience at the UN, observes Suman Guha Mozumder/Rediff.com in New York.
In his evocative style, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the United Nations General Assembly complete with feeling and emotion, captivating the audience.
Dressed in a traditional Nehru jacket and trousers, Modi, unlike many of his contemporaries and predecessors alike, often took his eyes off the script, made contact with his audience and drew them in, showcasing his oratorical prowess.
Reflecting sincerity, honesty and conviction, Modi's speech was important as it brought issues like terrorism, global development and technology to the forefront.
In his 33-minute speech, Modi said, "It is easy to be cynical and say nothing will change. But, if we do that, we run the risk of shirking our responsibilities and we put our collective future in danger. Let us bring ourselves in tune with the call of our times. First, let us work for genuine peace. No one country or group of countries can determine the course of this world. There has to be a genuine international partnership. This is not just a moral position, but a practical reality."
"We need a genuine dialogue and engagement between countries. I say this from conviction of the philosophical tradition that I come from. And our efforts must begin here -- in the United Nations," he added.
"When we think of the scale of want in the world -- 2.5 billion people without access to basic sanitation, 1.3 billion people without access to electricity, or 1.1 billion people without access to drinking water, we need a more comprehensive and concerted direct international action. In India, the most important aspects of my development agenda are precisely to focus on these issues. The eradication of poverty must remain at the core of the post-2015 Development Agenda and command our fullest attention," Modi said.
In sense, Modi took a leaf from his predecessor Inder Kumar Gujral who during his brief prime ministership made it a point not to bring up bilateral issues with Pakistan, such as Jammu and Kashmir, to the United Nations. Modi scrupulously avoided making any counter reference to Pakistan's traditional India bashing on the Kashmir issue.
Evidently, his forward looking and positive remarks, rising above a parochial perspective, went down well with the audience.
"I think you can call his speech visionary. Mr Modi painted a very broad canvas today and it was a good expression of India's vision of true multilateralism. I think everyone liked the address," a former Indian ambassador to the UN, now a top aide to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, told Rediff.com