INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY— FROM CHANAKYA TO MODI

INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY— FROM CHANAKYA TO MODI

Indian Foreign Policy–an overview by Aparna Pande, Director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia, at Hudson Institute, Washington D.C.

Want to dispel the opinions and views formed on rumours and personal tales about the way India deals with its neighbours and the world? Read the evolution of the India’s Foreign Policy in the book ‘FROM CHANAKYA TO MODI’, by Aparna Pande.  and  student from Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, JNU and Boston University,

India’s foreign policy like that of “Every country’s foreign policy, has an underlying paradigm that explains what has influenced its policy and why that country takes its own unique stand. This paradigm is the product of the nation’s history and its view of self. Leaders, especially those in premier positions for long periods, also shape how a nation sees itself in relation to others”, says Aparna

Aparna Pande’s new book, launched last week at a function at the  Observer Research Foundation on August 5, ,traces the evolution of  India’s Foreign Policy all the way ‘From Chanakya to Modi’ today.

It is a book that Aparna has dreamt of writing for a long, long time and a book that we as individual citizens of India have wanted to read for an equally long time: factual, intelligent, and objective elucidation of India’s position on the globe and in the Global Political World; the events, circumstances and people that caused this position and policy—India’s Foreign Policy.

A book that explains India’s foreign policy to the world and to its people: what are the ideas that have influenced foreign policy, the individuals who have left their mark and the institutions that play and played a role in shaping the policy?

…And who better than the learned to give us an overview of the Indian foreign policy as shaped from ancient times to the present millennia. Aparna has examined both sides of the border. She had earlier written a treatise on” Explaining Pakistan’s Foreign Policy: Escaping India” (Routledge, 2011), a policy much discussed by every Indian, all the time. She is also the editor of Contemporary Handbook on Pakistan (Routledge, 2016).

At book launch last week Aparna was impressive; succinct, clear, confident and knowledgeable. Her short but to the point speech left the audience panting for more; surprised at its brevity, richness and precision.

As the name suggests, Aparna’s book starts with the legacy of Chanakya and the ancient philosophers on the India’s Foreign Policy, moving on, to the medieval era of the sultans, through to the much reviled British colonial strategists of the Raj and finally the Indian National Movement for an independent India. According to Aparna, these legacies are still perceptively evident on India’s external relations.

The book lays out four major strands in the contemporary India’s Foreign Policy: Imperialist legacy, Messianic Idealism, Realism and Isolationism.

The ‘Imperial’ school of thought draws primarily from period of the British Raj. For this outlook, India Policy is the central policy and Delhi knows best. India’s post-independence policy towards its immediate South Asian neighbours best exemplifies this idea. Delhi, whether under the British or thereafter, has always believed that India’s central government is best suited to make security decisions.

‘Messianic Idealism,’ reflecting the mantra of global peace, justice and prosperity has served as the strong moral component of India’s foreign policy, inspired by the moral legacy of ancient Indian thought reiterated during national struggle under Mahatma Gandhi. Proponents of this perspective believe that India is an example for the world to emulate and that India has a duty to set such an example.

India has had no qualms in anchoring external relations in ‘Realism’. Belief in moral principles did not turn Indian leaders into pacifists. Notwithstanding the idealism, New Delhi has always recognized the importance of hard power for the success of the State.

Then there is the contradiction of ‘Isolationism’. India has been obvious in its reluctance to be drawn into global issues or ideologies and yet, has always chooses to play a global role. There is this strong streak of ‘isolationism’ in India’s global outlook. It is one of India’s many paradoxes that it wants to be seen as a great power and is still often reluctant to do what is required of most great powers.

Aparna  analyzes the what and the why of the foreign policies followed by all the Prime Ministers of independent India – from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi; The rationale and raison d’être for each Prime Minister’s policy. Interestingly, Aparna finds that while each Premier tried to walk his own path, there is a remarkable degree of continuity in the policies followed over the independent decades of different governments.

Individuals aside, Aparna details the role of an array of institutions that played a role in formulating and shaping India’s foreign policy— the primacy of the prime minister’s office, the role of ministry of external affairs, parliamentary oversight, the responsibility of the national Security Council, the role played by the media and new actors.

This book by Aparna Pande makes interesting and informative reading for the lay and the cognizant; dispelling rumour and myth that rules the Indian polity and lay opinion.