India’s Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, has emphasized the need for India to forge its own narrative in the realm of international relations. Speaking at an international relations conference hosted by Symbiosis International University in Pune, the minister pointed out the dominance of Western terminologies in the international relations lexicon, attributing concepts like the ‘trojan horse’ and ‘Gordian knots’ to British intellectualism.
Jaishankar highlighted the selective recognition of history, noting that while Western intellectuals readily acknowledge the “5000-year-old unbroken Chinese history,” India is often denied the same recognition. He shared an example, citing Winston Churchill’s dismissive remark that India was “no more a country than an equator.”
The minister stressed the importance of India shaping its own narrative and understanding its history independently of Western influences. He called for a fresh perspective on India’s past, encouraging an open-minded examination of historical events.
“Even if the economics of the world may have shifted, the politics may be shifting, but if the culture doesn’t move alongside these shifts, then those shifts will always remain incomplete,” Jaishankar asserted.
He advocated for a nuanced and objective re-examination of India’s near past, beyond political biases. According to Jaishankar, a comprehensive understanding of India’s history and cultural foundations is crucial for the nation to play a significant role on the global stage.
“Our future will never really bloom unless we have our own cultural foundations,” he remarked. “Today, Bharat needs its own narrative. If we are to be one of the voices of the global south, if rebalancing is to get more traction, if we are to see a significantly different world in the next 50 years, it is highly important that we address not just the economics and the politics and the technology of the world but also look at the cultural history, traditions, political science, and international relations.”
