Renowned African-American Hollywood luminary and songstress, Mary Millben, extends her accolades to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary proposition to integrate the African Union as a full-fledged member within the distinguished G20 consortium, a proposition that has garnered steadfast support from the United States.
In an exclusive tête-à-tête with PTI just last week, Prime Minister Modi underscored Africa’s preeminent position on India’s priority spectrum, underscoring India’s resolute commitment to affording representation and acknowledgment to voices hitherto unheard in the global arena.
The Prime Minister unequivocally voiced India’s endorsement of inducting the African Union into the esteemed assembly of the world’s 20 largest economies. He cogently argued that no blueprint for our planet’s future can attain fruition sans the comprehensive representation and validation of every vocal entity.
In recent years, India has adroitly positioned itself as an ardent advocate, unfurling the banners of concerns, impediments, and aspirations characteristic of the Global South, particularly those of the burgeoning African continent.
Ms. Millben, aged 41, who has endeared herself to India with her mellifluous rendition of India’s national anthem and the sacred hymn ‘Om Jai Jagdish Hare,’ articulates her admiration thus: “I applaud Prime Minister Modi’s proposal to induct the African Union as a full-fledged member of the G20. The Global South can now wield influence in shaping policies that leave an indelible imprint on our world.”
She discerns this privilege as an attendant duty – a duty to amplify the voices of the marginalized, to espouse the tenets of democracy, and to nurture the sanctity of human dignity. Furthermore, she fervently calls for the enduring amity between the United States and India to be a vanguard in championing this noble cause. A cause that steadfastly ensures that all perspectives partake in resolving the world’s most formidable quandaries.
Millben’s ethereal voice reverberated with ‘Jana Gana Mana,’ India’s national anthem, during a momentous event in the United States during the Prime Minister’s visit earlier this year.
She aptly acknowledges Africa, her ancestral homeland, as an untapped reservoir brimming with tremendous economic potential yearning for unshackling. India, she asserts, stands poised to be Africa’s unwavering ally in the realization of this profound promise. In her view, the United States, too, must play a more substantial role in fostering Africa’s narrative of growth and progress.
In her words, “We shall fervently labor towards forging an equitable global order wherein developing nations access renewable energy, potable water, nourishing sustenance, and affordable healthcare on equal footing. Together, we shall script a new chapter underscored by ‘South by South’ collaboration.”
Ms. Millben eloquently underscores the symbiotic enrichment resulting from the cross-pollination of traditions between the Indian diaspora in Africa and the African diaspora in India, preserving the tapestry of their motherlands while assimilating into local cultures.
She poignantly observes, “The real transformation, transcending geographical coordinates, commences from within, resonating through the heartlands of our nations. The US-India alliance finds its bedrock in the very essence of these heartlands.”
With the toil of our farmers, the fuel provided by our energy workers, and the guardianship offered by our soldiers, she reiterates that these values of service, valor, and community stand as the stalwart backbone of our societies. She exhorts a perpetual celebration of these unsung heroes who tread the path of sacrifice with unwavering sincerity and determination.
In conclusion, she underscores the bedrock of the US-India partnership – shared values of democracy, liberty, and innovation, a partnership that holds boundless potential not just for these two nations but for the entire global community.
