RESHAPING INDIA'S PLACE IN THE WORLD

In many ways, Jaishankar explains Modi to the world. That's no small feat

- BY INDRANI BAGCHI CEO, Ananta Centre

WE HAVE A litany of “Jaishankar-isms” — some home truths, others policy statements, some grand sweeps of geopolitics, others snarky, disarmingly delivered. Do you want to push back against western pressure on Russia? There are some choice remarks of our foreign minister you can rattle off, some which I heard quoted back at me at the recent Munich Security Conference. Can you conflate India's diplomatic choices today with its civilisational culture? Certainly, when you consider that the most adroit diplomats of the ancient world may well have been Lord Krishna and Hanuman.

But beneath his sharp policy acumen lies a deeper commitment to reshaping India's place in the world, blending ancient wisdom with modern diplomacy.

TRUSTED LIEUTENANT

Jaishankar, I have argued earlier, has been Prime Minister Narendra Modi's most inspired pick. He reflects a blend of academic rigour, extensive field experience, and a forward-looking approach to India's foreign policy challenges, making him a key figure in contemporary international diplomacy. Despite a long career in diplomacy, Jaishankar has built a reputation for avoiding the frills of the diplomatic job, diving straight into the issue at hand.