The India Way: Strategies For An Uncertain World: By-Dr.S.Jaishankar

THE INDIA WAY:
Strategies for an Uncertain World
By- Dr.S.Jaishankar
This book authored by, Dr.S.Jaishankar, takes on a journey that explains the nuances of
geopolitics and how it actually works, factors on which it depends, impacts it create, and the
vision in which Indian foreign policy should proceed in this era of new world order.
In the first chapter, Dr. Jaishankar cited the story from one of the films of Satyajit ray where
it mentioned that how two Indian nawabs were playing chess when the British East India
Company came to India. It gave an analogy that India should not close its eyes to world
politics and wait for destiny to decides its consequences. This chapter also clearly talks about
the rise of China and its impact on India. The rise of China gave India stronger nationalism
not just for its domestic politics but also in its geopolitical outlook. The Idea of nationalism
that has been outlined in the book is quite interesting. Dr.Jaishankar has a very unique way of
seeing nationalism and globalisation. Although he restrained himself from being dogmatic
against either of them. Somewhere in the new global order he supported the idea of
nationalism and saw it as more dynamic to shape the current foreign policy of the world. He,
however, talked that how India restrained itself from extreme nationalism where the country
only works in their interest more in a selfish manner, to counter this argument he gave an
example of the slogan of his government and relevance of ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka
vishwas’ and that of vaccine diplomacy. This nationalism is not something that only India has
acquired but we have seen how under Trump administration came up with American first
policy and that policy has a clear cut effect on Indian origin employees working in the US in
form of H1B visas and least to mention trade war with China. He mentioned the rise of
communist nationalism that took place after the Chinese revolution in 1949. While reading
the book I felt that what arguments are given by Dr.Jaishankar quite well justifies why India
choose not to sign the RCEP deal. A country that lost its independence for centuries can opt
for nationalism to regain its image and importance in the world, well that’s quite debatable if
we combine the results with economic gains that we witnessed by opening our markets for
FDIs so we can’t negate the positive outcomes we saw by globalisation. Well on the contrary
I found that how Dr.Jaishankar has pointed out the incapability of the policy makers by
giving an example that we delayed opening up our economy till the situation gone absolutely
out of control and his opinion that we would have done much better if we would have taken
this decision earlier as China did in 1978 being one of the proclaimed communist nations.
We do need such introspection and carve out our indifferences and ineffectiveness in our
policy making that once we even saw turbulent internal political tug of war while
negotiations for nuclear deal was taking place with USA.
On the foreign policy and ally formation Dr.Jaishankar gave a very intellectual and profound
insights from his experience as long serving diplomat. He quite well sums up theory of
frenemies. Discussed about that how USSR and USA were ally during World War 2 but soon
after they formed two different power axis that gave rise to cold war. But here what is most
important part was that what made them ally in the very first place? The answer was a
common goal to defeat Germany and Japan and when that purpose was fulfilled there was no
common goal left and the differences of ideology and greed to be world power, cold war
happened. He further explained this idea by giving examples with Indian context.
During cold war- Non alignment movement
1962 Chinese attack- India asked help from USA air force.
During 1971 war- against dangerous PAK-USA-China axis - India shifted towards Soviets
for help.
We have witnessed such drastic changes in pattern of ally formation and that’s why a rigid
and orthodox ally formation would harm the interests of nation.
In a very interesting chapter named as “Krishna’s choice” mention of teachings of

Mahabharata and its relevance in formulation of our foreign policy strategies is actually quite
fascinating. The intriguing element of dharma for safeguarding the territorial integrity and
sovereignty through channels of diplomacy and not from conflict.
The book also disused about the role of regional blocs and other grouping of nations such as
BRICS, SCO, ASEAN, G7, QUAD etc. and its relevance in framing diplomatic and foreign
policies. One of such instance in the book highlighted on importance of Asean, and its role in
retaining centrality for demands of India in South China sea, ensuring balance and having
strategic upper hand in the region. Quad is proving to be constant threat to China’s
expansionist approach in the region. India being active member of BRICS, SCO and RIC
ensures balance with west and East. The book has also highlighted that how non alignment
movement lost its relevance in today’s era, it served its purpose quite effectively during
1947-62, where it prevented newly independent nation to participate in the cold war, that
helped India to have cordial relations with soviets and India fulfilled its food security needs
from the west.
To conclude I would like to highlight several criticism and failures on foreign policy front
which the book did not mention them. Long enduring ally, Iran’s relations with India is going
through quite turbulent times on which this book remained silent, besides that the author also
remained silent on its confused foreign policy towards Israel-Palestine issue which recently
has seen to be more aggravated, the book also did not mention about the fiasco that happened
with our neighbour in Nepal over the issue of Kala Pani and Limpiyadhura territorial dispute,
and also on the impact of CAA on ties with Bangladesh. Least to mention India’s failure to
tackle Sri Lanka on the strategic level and safeguard its interest in East Container Terminal
Project at the Colombo Port. Apparently, one can feel that the author refrained from touching
the controversial political topics. The criticism could be well justified as the book is being
authored by not just a seasoned diplomat but also by a current foreign minister representing a
political party. Now coming on the positive side, the book discussed in-depth about foreign
policy and how it evolved with time. Dr.Jaishankar analysed different sets of circumstances
and challenges in world order while discussing India’s foreign policy response to such
instances, it also discusses India’s vision and its goals to claim its place on the world stage
and how it can be achieved by efficient foreign policy.

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THE INDIA WAY:

Strategies for an Uncertain World

During cold war- Non alignment movement

In a very interesting chapter named as “Krishna’s choice” mention of teachings of

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