External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has emphasized that India’s rising global stature is driven by leadership and vision, rather than individual execution. Speaking at the Pune Book Festival, Jaishankar dismissed praise directed at himself, shifting the credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Leadership Over Execution
When asked if “one Jaishankar” was sufficient for the country, the minister corrected the premise of the question. “You should have actually asked me: there is only one Modi,” he replied. Drawing a parallel to Indian mythology, he noted that diplomats and ministers are like Shri Hanuman, who ultimately serve a higher vision—referencing the relationship between Hanuman and Lord Ram.
“Countries are defined by leaders and vision,” Jaishankar explained. “There are people who execute it, but ultimately, it is the vision, the leadership, and the confidence that makes the difference today.”
De-Westernizing Strategic Thought
The EAM also advocated for the use of Indian concepts and terminology in global statecraft. Expressing his frustration with Western-centric textbooks that claim India lacks a tradition of strategy, Jaishankar pointed toward the Mahabharat and Ramayan as foundational texts for diplomacy.
Key highlights from his talk included:
- The Greatest Diplomats: Jaishankar identified Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman as history’s greatest diplomats for their roles in the Mahabharat and Ramayan, respectively.
- Indian Statecraft: He urged the world to recognize Indian traditions of strategy, tactics, and “game plans” that have existed for millennia.
- Cultural Confidence: The minister emphasized the need to popularize Indian terms in the strategic domain to better reflect the country’s heritage on the world stage.