As Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues his two-day diplomatic trip to Argentina, the Congress party took the opportunity on Saturday to spotlight significant historic links between India and the South American country. Modi arrived in Buenos Aires on Friday evening (local time), where he is scheduled to meet with Argentina’s top officials, evaluate ongoing bilateral collaborations, and explore new avenues to strengthen ties in crucial areas.
What Argentina Represents for Indians
In a social media post on 'X', Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh remarked, “The Prime Minister is currently in Argentina. He has visited three nations so far, with two more on the itinerary. For most Indians, Argentina instantly brings to mind football legends like Maradona and Messi. However, there are also three profound and meaningful associations between our countries.”
Tagore’s Argentine Sojourn
Ramesh recalled that Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore had journeyed to Argentina in November 1924, at the invitation of renowned writer Victoria Ocampo. Tagore’s literary works were already well regarded by then. He published a poetic collection titled Purabi exactly a century ago, comprising 52 poems, which he dedicated to Ocampo under the name ‘Vijaya’.
Indira Gandhi’s Recognition by Argentina
According to Ramesh, in 1968, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Buenos Aires and personally met Victoria Ocampo. During this meeting, she awarded Ocampo an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from Visva-Bharati University. He added in a separate post that Argentina paid tribute to Indira Gandhi by releasing commemorative postage stamps in her honour in 1986. An image of the stamp was also shared.
Buddhism’s Cultural Influence in Argentina
Ramesh also shed light on the influence of Buddhism on Argentine literature. He noted that Jorge Luis Borges, a literary icon of 20th-century Argentina, was inspired by The Light of Asia by Sir Edwin Arnold, which he read as a child in 1906. This early encounter with Buddhist philosophy deeply impacted Borges, which later reflected in his short stories, essays, and lectures. A decade before his death, Borges published a book titled Qué es el Budismo (What is Buddhism), reflecting his lifelong admiration for the teachings of Buddha.
Manmohan Singh and Economic Diplomacy
The Congress leader further pointed out that Raúl Prebisch, an eminent economist during the 1950s and 60s, was instrumental in creating the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Dr. Manmohan Singh, India’s former Prime Minister, served with UNCTAD in New York from January 1966 to May 1969. Ramesh also mentioned a treasured photograph of Singh with his daughters during that period.
India’s Role in Hosting Global Economic Dialogue
Ramesh concluded by noting that India hosted the second UNCTAD session in New Delhi from January to March 1968, marking the first time a developing nation held such a major UN event. He also referenced how terms like “Global South,” now frequently used by Prime Minister Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, were heavily promoted by UNCTAD. However, he clarified that the phrase was originally coined by British banker Oliver Franks in 1960.
