At the BRICS Summit in Rio, our Prime Minister stood tall, chest puffed and chin high, thundered, “The Global South is not being heard!”

Bravo, Sir! Bravo! Clap! Clap! Clap! I almost stood up and did a little bhangra right in front of my laptop.

But then I paused.

You see, when one shouts and no one listens, it’s not just about the volume, is it? It’s also where you’re shouting from. And if you’re hollering from the valley while the rest of the world has climbed the mountaintop, your echo might reach only the goats grazing nearby. Or worse, bounce back and sound like you’re talking to yourself.

Now, let’s talk about this famous “Global South.” That’s us, by the way—India and most of our hardworking neighbours in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Countries rich in culture, full of potential, and deeply talented. But also, unfortunately, riddled with corruption, chaotic governance, vanishing truths, muzzled voices, political parties with no agenda, and far too often, brutal crimes against women.

So yes, Mr. Prime Minister, the world isn’t listening—but not because they’re deaf. It’s because, often, we sound like we’re complaining, not climbing.

Think about it. When you’re on a mountaintop, people have to listen. You’ve got visibility, credibility, and altitude. But if you’re in the valley, we might as well be shaking our fists at the clouds, while the folks above sip their coffee and look at their phones.

Let’s not just shout. Let’s climb sir.

Climb out of corruption—not just by arresting a clerk taking a hundred-rupee bribe, but by cleaning the stench in higher offices that smell like Swiss bank vaults.

Climb out of poverty—not by announcing new schemes every election, but by building institutions that actually deliver and don’t disappear after the ribbon-cutting.

Climb out of our warped justice systems where women file FIRs and are blamed for what they wore, how they walked, or what time they dared to step out.

Climb towards truth—where journalists and columnists don’t mysteriously vanish, comedians aren’t jailed for jokes the politicians couldn’t understand, and the media like silent mice when a cat’s around are quieter than a whisper when real issues arise.

Climb, my dear leaders, until freedom of expression is more than a catchy slogan in your Independence Day speech. Until equality is not something women only read about in their school textbooks. Until every child—regardless of religion, caste, or gender—can dream, not just of leaving the country.

Then, when we finally reach that mountaintop—where dignity stands tall, justice walks free, and truth isn’t gagged—we won’t even need to shout.

The world will listen. The world will respect.

So yes, shout from the mountaintop, Sir—but only after you help us climb there together. Otherwise, it’s just thunder in the valley—and all it scares are the cows.

And we don’t want to do that, do we?

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