Why Bharat Matters

India was and continues to be perceived through a foreign lens. With Indians unquestioningly subscribing to this vision, the Western definition of India dominated the worldview. Outlining the metamorphosis of India's foreign policy stratagem, former diplomat and India’s external affairs minister Dr Subramanyam Jaishankar in his first work, “The India Way: Strategies For An Uncertain World” expertly laid out India’s approach to tackle the global turbulences. His latest book, “Why Bharat Matters”, presents a strategic overview of India’s perspective on contemporary global challenges. Unabashedly crediting the Indian values, beliefs and the role of ethos in shaping India’s foreign policy, the book swiftly segues into the importance of foreign policy and its impact on our daily lives.

With over five decades of experience as a career diplomat and now leading the role the implementing foreign policy, the ideation of Jaishankar, a distillate of wisdom dissects the global vulnerabilities clinically. Adeptly integrating the role of domestic growth with the bigger picture he presents the larger canvas of the international scenario with an Indian perspective. While his first work dotted on the strategic acumen at play in Mahabharata, his current work competently extracts relevant episodes of Ramayana to interpret the foreign policy perspective. To a world, accustomed to generously drawing from Iliad’s Homer epithets, Jaishankar narrates about diplomatic geniuses like Hanuman, Angad and Tara of Ramayana in his book.

In the context of the need to cultivate awareness about competitors, Jaishankar draws from Rama’s encounters with various demons and the display of his capabilities in confrontation with Parashurama. Delving into the jostling of rising powers, he aptly refers to the competition between Sage Vasistha and King Kaushika (Vishwamitra) where the drive to push ahead is spurred by humiliation even though the former was at peace with himself. These ‘value-additions’ definitely sets the books apart in establishing a quick connection with Indic proclivities.

Comprising eleven engaging essays, the book encapsulates national interests, articulates India’s position and attempts to find solutions. Elucidating the five phenomena that have dominated the last couple of decades- globalisation, rebalancing, multipolarity, the impact of technology and games that nations play, Jaishankar also reminds rising powers like India of the tasks at hand. He underscores the importance of balancing amid the North-South divide and East-West dissensions and the importance of diplomacy.

Diplomacy, he calls is the “natural partner of defense as military confrontations end at conference table”. He says, “foreign policies and defense policies are joined at the hip” and advocates building capabilities and deterrence through multiple acquisitions from different countries. “Diplomacy supports, empowers and facilitates national security efforts”, he says and warns about the “separatism, violence, fundamentalism propagated from far-off destinations”. Implicitly hitting out at countries that downplay preaching of violence against others as not at odds with democratic rights, he favoured firmer diplomatic measures.

Lucidity, the hallmark of his oration is characteristically reflected in his writing style. The choice of words and crisp sentences evocatively sustain the import of his messaging. At the helm of the affairs, Jaishankar has lent a distinct sharpness to Indian foreign policy. His straight talk is mirrored in the book where he indicates, “Diplomacy has a responsibility of both shield and sword of polity”. Reinforcing the importance of effective foreign policy, he narrates how modern economies like Japan, Korea and China have used it to create new capacities at home through wide-ranging external interactions in obtaining technology, resources and best practices.

Under Modi, Jaishankar argues that India has embraced a mindset of using foreign policy as an instrument to accelerate national development, and modernisation by effectively wooing the world for best practices. Expounding that economic security and national security are deeply intertwined, the strategic clarity of the present government on various aspects has helped India to tide through the worst cataclysmic event of the millennium- Covid. Lauding India’s generous “Vaccine Maitri” which reached out to 150 organisations and 100 partner countries, he noted how the crisis has exposed countries like China and the West.

Contemplating the basics of diplomacy and its preeminence in a country’s destination, he recalls Nehruvian times when ideology took precedence. Reminding of the quixotic non-western solidarity and the price paid for the utopian “Asian togetherness” and “Asia for Asiatics”, Jaishankar reiterates the need for a confident leadership capable of incorporating systematic changes.

Recalling the fallouts of the complacent diplomacy and excessive trusting, Jaishankar alludes to threats from India’s adversaries- Pakistan and China. Lambasting the “ChiIndia” lobby that advocates for deepening ties with China, Jaishankar calls for a downgrade of the strategic partnership with China that fails to uphold mutuality- “mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, mutual interests”. While India and China subscribe to a multipolar world, there should be acceptance of multipolar Asia. China’s refusal to accept India’s rise, her priorities and interests has complicated the issue. Relations between countries should be reciprocal in nature, China’s inability to accommodate India and its inconsistencies has complicated the relationship.

Globalisation and technological revolution which erased distances creating interdependence and interpenetration have engendered unprecedented security challenges. Cautioning about these vulnerabilities, he believed that a nation like India must be vigilant given its potency of being wielded as “war by other means” through “radicalisation, violent extremism or even terrorism”. In the same breath, Jaishankar hits out at this burgeoning impact of “borderless politics” in “shaping narratives and argumentation, it seeks to legitimise and de-legitimise” and the willingness of external interests in aligning with the local elites in using “toolbox of influence and capability”. The only way to counter this bias given “free-pass from fact-checking” and replete with “selectivity of judgement” is to create our own narratives. Indicating, “sections of the world have their views, but we should not be intimidated from having a view on those views” and moans, “Swimming upstream is the karma of all rising powers”.

Discretely identifying the challenges, Jaishankar extols the leadership of Prime Minister Modi for conceptual clarity supplemented with strategic communication, determination, vision and perseverance to enhance global standing. Any leadership is judged based on the government’s response to the crisis and ensuring delivery. He credits Modi for pursuing national interests with responsibility for collective good and for giving primacy to national security.

Instead of restricting to a silo of foreign policy, Jaishankar presents an overview of the strategic course adopted by the Modi government including the integration of economic security with technological security. He showcases the achievements of Modi’s innovative diplomacy and its unfaltering commitment to seeking strength from Indian Civilisational values.  Clearly, the rationale of “Building Bharat is not a matter of falling back on our past, it is primarily about reimaging our future”.

The book has been vocal in constantly alerting the policymakers of the tendency to slip back into default complacency. Skirting away from casual implementation or downright neglect, he calls for an integrated governance process to bolster national security. Learning from the past, India must stop downplaying issues like cross-border terrorism and competitive geopolitics for it forestalls us to turn away from hard choices. As a scathing reminder of idealism-driven diplomacy, that came back to bite us hard even now, he derides the desire for acceptance, particularly from competitors.

Harping on the moot issue of why India’s rise matters- aside from India’s commitment to rule-based order, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), India is emerging as a consensus building in this highly fractured world. Home to one-sixth of humanity with 32 million diaspora spanning the world, India’s developmental partnership, a conscious policy of responding to the priorities and needs of partner countries is making a cognisable difference. As a democracy capable of delivering, India is refurbishing her credentials as a leading power in the making.

India, a civilisational state transitioning into a modern nation-state is “uniquely positioned to bridge modernity and tradition”. He contends, “It will be more impactful by embracing its heritage, not by diminishing it. A combination of cultural beliefs and modernising agenda helps address many current dilemmas. Its historical characteristics are a source of strength once they are approached with confidence…. Similarly, stronger nationalism at home exists traditionally with enthusiastic internationalism abroad. Rising India wants to engage the world more, not less. India matters when it is more authentically India”.

The depth of understanding and the realism of the foreign policy expounded in the book make it an endearing read for any person who is passionate about India’s rise. The book brilliantly turns the spotlight on the external interests, internal challenges, opportunities and anxieties associated with globalisation, the unremitting powerplay of competitors. This complex geopolitical web presents a narrow latitude of opportunity for a confident leadership to seize it and innovatively use it to pursue national interests.

“A more assured India is more expressive”. India matters because of its distinct characteristics. Above all, he concludes by saying- “With each passing day, it is becoming clearer that India matters because it is Bharat”.

Pages: 237

Publisher: Rupa Publications India

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