India and Italy have reason to be justifiably proud of their histories. In the case of Italy, the land was the home of the Roman Empire, the land from which historical figures such as Julius Caesar came. Not just in Rome but within several parts of Italy stand remnants in stone of the glory of the past, in the way they do in India. The connection with history ensures that several million from across the world visit Italy.
It must not be overlooked that Rome is the city in which is located Vatican City, which has an independent policy sometimes different from the rest of Italy. The Vatican contains the residence of the Pope, who is known as the Vicar of Christ to Roman Catholics across the world. The present Pontiff is the first in that long chain of Popes who comes from the US and has ethnic roots in Africa. Pope Leo XIV has won the affection and respect of the world for his courage in speaking out against the horrors of war.
It may be remembered that during the troubled days when Germany was under the jackboot of the Nazis, it was a Papal encyclical that warned Catholics against the new regime in Germany. Titled in its translated version as “Mit brennender Sorge” (with burning sorrow), the encyclical drew attention to the atrocities being committed by the Nazis first in Germany and later in other parts of Europe. Among the bravest and the best of the resistance fighters battling the Nazis at the risk of their lives were several members of the Catholic community, whose consciences had been stirred by the Papal encyclical.
The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, is a practising Catholic proud of her faith, in the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is proud of his faith. Yet such differences did not come in the way of a meeting of minds between Modi and Meloni, a confluence so profound that millions refer to the Modi-Meloni bond as representing Melody.
The latest foreign tour of PM Narendra Modi began with a visit to the United Arab Emirates, ever a close friend of India, and concluded with a visit to another close friend of India, Italy. The leaders of both countries, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Giorgia Meloni, fittingly are close friends of Prime Minister Modi.
The foreign travel of the Prime Minister has been met with carping from the usual critics, but such naysayers overlook the benefits to India of such visits. In his latest visit, for the first time ever, the Prime Minister represented India at the Summit with Nordic countries, a very consequential group. Each was represented by its own Head of Government, showing the standing of India in the world and the respect bestowed upon PM Narendra Modi.
What was most commented upon in social media, almost always favourably, was the visit to Italy. Primo Ministro Meloni showed her warmth and regard for Primo Ministro Modi. She personally showed Modi around the residence of the PM of Italy. The two stood on the balcony of the residence, with Primo Ministro Meloni pointing out aspects of the vista to Primo Ministro Modi.
Relations between top leaders of different countries serve as lubrication for joint activity, and the visit has made certain that Italy and India are going to work jointly in several areas, such as defence. As many as 55 delegations from India visited Italy in the previous year, as did reciprocal visits by the Italians.
Both in their own way are leaders in Artificial Intelligence, and by working together, the two can make more progress in several fields concerning AI than if they were each to work within their individual silos. Together, Italy and India have the capability of producing cutting edge defence products, including drones, which are now replacing manned aircraft in accuracy and potency.
Melody—Meloni and Modi each want their own countries to be world beaters in technology, and much more work than in the past will be done jointly by them. Within the European Union, Giorgia Meloni is an important voice. More and more conservatives are edging out liberals from positions of power, including in the Nordic countries.
It is certain that there will soon be an India-Italy Summit, just as there already are India-UK, India-France and India-Germany bilateral summits. More and more melody will enter and enliven the top rungs of world markets, the joint enterprise of two countries with cultures and traditions stretching back for thousands of years.
