Gandhian Trusteeship: Sustainable Lifestyles and Enduring Peace

On February 23rd, I was honored to sit in the ECOSOC Chamber at the United Nations Headquarters in New York as a UNA-NYC Representative, and witness an esteemed panel of Ambassadors, international peacemakers, and professors gather to shine a light on Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of Trusteeship. The afternoon's event focused on the potential for the concept of human flourishing — in short, the capacity of individuals to not only survive but live a good life — to promote sustainable lifestyles and the doctrine's intersection with the 2030 Agenda on the global stage.

The foundation of the afternoon's discussion hinged on Gandhi's political leadership, which evolved from his moral, ethical, and spiritual beliefs. Those beliefs led to the development of his doctrine of Trusteeship; a model of development which aims to attain economic equality in society and is based on nonviolence and inclusivity. The philosophy rests on the idea that every member of society should use their resources for the common good and interest of all; that "the world has enough for everyone's needs, but not for everyone's greed."

India is the Chair of the G20 this year, and the motto of the G20 Presidency is "One World, One family, One future." A UN report released by the Secretary-General cites the continued high global inequality rate post the COVID-19 pandemic, giving relevance to the doctrine of Gandhi's Trusteeship and the position India has to play as a role model in these efforts.

Mr. Ramu Damodaran, the first Chief of the United Nations Academic Impact, Adviser at the University for Peace, and UNA-NYC board member, moderated the afternoon. Mr. Damodaran called attention to the ECOSOC Chamber we were gathered in and noted its vastness. He reflected that within this space is where the Trusteeship of all people's economic and social well- being resides. An area that is made intimate by the energy of those who occupy it. On Thursday, this energy was palpable.

Each panelist shared their first introduction to Mahatma Gandhi. Some shared vivid memories of themselves as children in their local libraries and being drawn to Gandhi's message of ethical and moral global well-being. Others shared being struck by how Gandhi's political leadership was based on his moral values and how his power derived from those values. The panel reflected on the connection between civil rights and human rights, how the local is connected to the global, and how power is connected to principal. They cited Gandhi's bravery and fearlessness, not in the absence of violence, but in the face of it.

Mr. Damodaran posed thoughtful questions to each panelist, exploring moral and political themes. The concept of human flourishing took center stage. Dr. Joel H. Rosenthal, President of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, suggested that human flourishing is an elegant idea and an actionable concept. Its core tenets are mutuality and reciprocity: the idea that nobody acts alone. If we take this ethical principle, Dr. Rosenthal argued that there is room for empathy. We cannot understand our own interests until we understand the interests of others–a concept that translates directly into the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, to which multiple panelists gave attention.

Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, shared extraordinary data about India's work toward achieving multiple SDGs. She cited the 240 million vaccines produced and shared during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the humanitarian aid sent to Syria and Türkiye, the country's low carbon footprint, the construction of the world's first fully solar-powered airport, and India’sLiFE Campaign. The LiFE Campaign puts a collective duty on everyone to live a life that does not harm the earth, but is in tune with it: to become “Pro Planet People” and operate in a more mindful and deliberate manner to preserve and protect the environment.

Within the inspiring messages of peace and global unity, the global threat of the war in Ukraine and the national threat to democracy were not ignored. Instead, the call to act upon such a universal doctrine was pressed as highly imperative and needed now more than ever. The challenges involved were highlighted when a question from the audience was posed to Ambassador Kamboj, crediting the good steps India is taking towards the SDGs but noting that a large portion of India's oil imports is Russian. Ambassador Kamboj responded, "India is a country, just like everyone else." The Ambassador’s response highlighted the fact that in practice there will always be compromises between Gandhi’s Trusteeship concept and the reality of economic consumption.

The panel presented inspiring and concrete steps forward in the face of discord. Their views reflected how this work cannot be done in an instant; however, this moment is one for a new realism as expressed in the UN Charter. "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."