External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar emphasised on how the mythological literature defines India’s strategic ideals by drawing inspiration from the Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
When promoting his English book “The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World,” which has been translated into Marathi as “Bharat Marg,” at a gathering in Pune, he said, “The biggest diplomats in the world were Lord Krishna and Hanuman… If we look at Hanuman, he had gone beyond diplomacy, he went ahead of the mission, contacted Sita and set Lanka on fire too.”
He referred to Lord Hanuman and Lord Krishna as “the greatest diplomats.”
Talking about Lord Hanuman, EAM Jaishankar said, “if you look at it from a diplomatic perspective, in the situation he (Hanuman) was in, what mission was he given, and how he handled it and used intelligence and then gathered some in Lanka. He even went beyond his mission of contacting Sita and burnt down Lanka. He was a multi-purpose diplomat.”
He used Lord Krishna’s several pardons of Shishupal to illustrate the concept of strategic patience. Shishupala made 100 faults, and Krishna promised to pardon him, but after the 100th one, he would be killed.
It illustrates the significance of one of a good decision-most maker’s critical traits, EAM said.
Kurukshetra, the site of the Mahabharat War between the Kauravas and Pandavas, was linked by Jaishankar to “Multipolar India.”
The capacity of a state to pursue its own national interests and desired foreign policy without interference from other states is known as strategic autonomy.
Since its independence, India has adopted a strategy of strategic autonomy during the bipolar cold war (1947–1991), the unipolar era (1991–2008), and the multipolar era (2008-present).
Strategic autonomy is not an alliance or an isolation. In order to protect India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, it must be re-calibrated in accordance with the security situation.
Mr. Jaishankar used the example of Lord Krishna giving the appearance of a sunset when discussing “strategic deception.”
Many warriors on Kaurava’s side cruelly slaughtered Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu. Arjuna makes a promise to exact revenge on Jayadratha, the principal offender, by the next nightfall. If he fails, he’ll jump onto a blazing pyre to end his life.
By hiding Jayadratha until dusk, the Kauravas hope that Arjuna would fail and commit suicide.
As dusk falls, Jayadratha assumes Arjuna failed the test and shows up in front of him. After that, Jayadratha’s head is chopped off by an arrow that Krishna instructed Arjuna to shoot immediately.
He also emphasised the “cost of reputation,” claiming that the Pandavas’ reputation was superior than the Kauravas’.
He stated, “Karan and Duryodhan are violating rules-based order,” when referring to the system.
The friendship between Karan and Duryodhan did neither of them or their families any favours. It had no beneficial effects on society. Additionally, it devoured their lives and left their family members with terrible agony, extensive injury, and irreparable harm.
A friendship between two people who are mostly bad in nature can only lead to negative consequences for both parties and the community at large.
The region’s peace and security are threatened by China’s efforts to militarise disputed outposts in the South China Sea, its willingness to enforce its vast and illegal maritime claims through coercion and intimidation, as well as other provocative activities. Beijing’s broad maritime claims in the South China Sea lack any cogent legal support.
A shared agreement among States to carry out their operations in line with a set of rules is typically referred to as a rules-based order.
Jaishankar also provided evidence of “tactical adjustment” by fabricating Ashwathama’s demise. The Kauravas’ chief commander, Dronacharya, fought so fiercely for five days that the Pandavas were powerless to stop him.
Pandavas devised a strategy to fool Dronacharya by having Yudhisthira make a fraudulent statement, knowing that Dronacharya would only believe Yudhisthira.
Krishna is aware that Drona’s son Ashwathama is his one and only weakness in this situation. He therefore requests Yudhisthira to inform people that Ashwathama has passed away and that this is what killed Drona
