Dr S Jaishankar: Bharat Matters

Opinion

Dr R Neerunjun Gopee

‘A New India…that is able to define its own interests, articulate its own positions, find its own solutions and advance its own model. In short, this is an India that is more Bharat’
— Dr Subramaniam Jaishankar

Mauritius is honoured for the second time by the presence of the Hon External Affairs Minister of Bharat, Dr Subramaniam Jaishankar, who had been here once before, in 2021. From the official communiqué it is obvious, as expected, that he has a packed and tight schedule during this brief two-day visit. It is a pattern of work engagements that he is used to as he goes around both in Bharat and the world promoting Bharat’s perspective and positions and defending his country’s interests.

I had the opportunity to interact with him as part of a media delegation that was generously hosted by the Government of India in 2017. I recall that he was asked some probing questions about the Diego Garcia issue and gave forthright answers. It is the same forthrightness and clarity, as well as politeness and firmness, that he displays when he answers queries in various settings on the global stage in his capacity as External Affairs Minister since he assumed the responsibilities of the post following the general elections of 2019. It came as no surprise that he was re-appointed to this position after the 2024 elections, as part of PM Modi’s third Cabinet which comprises several other previous occupants of the same ministerial portfolios, such as for example Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

One of the very first of such responses was shortly following the breakout of the European war between Ukraine and Russia, and in fact that response went viral and is still often referred to. It was during a press briefing in a European capital, and he was asked by a lady journalist of Al Jazeera about Bharat buying oil from Russia. Very coolly, in his usual manner, he first advised the journalist to check her facts before framing her questions. He then went on to cite the latest report published by the EU on oil purchases, where the statistics showed that Europe had bought in half a day what Bharat had bought in one month.

In another forum in Europe again sometime later, he was queried anew on the same issue. This time he cited the provision in the UN legislation that allows country X to buy crude from any country, to process it and then sell it to other countries. Et le comble, as we say in French, Europe too was buying crude from Russia refined in Bharat! Speak of double standards and hypocrisy!

Dr Jaishankar is a seasoned diplomat with over four decades of experience of service in major capitals of the world, including Washington and Beijing, which gives him the breadth and the depth of knowledge and understanding of international affairs that he brings to bear as the global most well-known public figure of Bharat after PM Narendra Modi. The quote at the top of the page is part of the text on the back cover of his second book, ‘Why Bharat Matters’ which is worth citing in toto:

‘India’s quest to ascend the global hierarchy is an endless journey. But as we take stock of the progress made and anticipate the challenges ahead, it is certainly reassuring that this is propelled by such deep national commitment and confidence. Whether it is drawing strength from its heritage and culture or approaching challenges with the optimism of democracy and technology, this is certainly a New India. Indeed, an India …that is more Bharat.’

And hence ‘Why Bharat Matters’.

Jaishankar draws inspiration from the Mahabharata which is one of the two major epics or, rather, itihasas (Sanskrit iti hi asa – as it was) – the other being the Ramayana – of Bharat. The Mahabharata, in particular, is a historical narrative that stretches to the beginnings of Indic civilisation unknown thousands of years ago, wherein are to be found accounts of the rise and fall of dynasties – mankind’s history in fact -, and embedded within are critical lessons in statecraft that are relevant for all times.

Indeed, it is said of the Mahabharata that ‘whatever is found in it can be found elsewhere too, but what is not in it cannot be found anywhere.’

In an interview that he gave to the magazine India Today a few years ago, Dr Jaishankar shared some of the lessons and insights in governance and diplomacy that Mahabharata provides and concluded that Bharat must follow what he calls the Mahabharata Way. In fact, he always carries a copy of the Mahabharata with him when he travels.

In his first book, ‘The India Way’, he expands further on this as he describes the obstacles, opportunities and challenges that the changing world order, one of multipolarity and uncertainties, is throwing up and that every country is having to cope with. At the same time, this brings new responsibilities to countries concerned with maintaining peace and stability, such as Bharat, ensuring that development and progress can take place, and that the benefits can spread to and be shared by all peoples.

In this unfolding future, Bharat has a major role to play as a rising superpower which now ranks 5th in the global economy and, in all likelihood, it is on an unstoppable trajectory to rise to the third place by 2030

Mauritius should therefore consider itself fortunate to have such close historical and cultural ties with Bharat, whose global concerns and sought after skills and capacities perforce extend to all regions. It is inevitable that geopolitical considerations should drive Bharat’s interest in the Indian Ocean and the coastal countries therein, and Mauritius being one of them is a natural partner quite apart from the historical reasons. These would themselves be sufficient justification for partnering, as Bharat pursues its goal of ‘making friends and influencing the world.’

Many examples of this will be found in ‘The India Way’, a revealing one being how Bharat, over and above manufacturing and administering a staggering two billion doses of Covid vaccines to its own citizens, donated nearly 400 million doses to help out countries that had no manufacturing capacity or the means to source them from the then quasi-closed global market. Mauritius was one of the first beneficiaries of this ‘Vaccine Maitri’ (Vaccine Friendship).

En passant, it may be noted that among the early beneficiaries was Canada (500,000 doses), and that country’s leadership’s mode of expressing its gratitude for this life-saving gesture is to be a haven for anti-Bharat terrorism.

As Dr Jaishankar wrote in ‘The India Way’: ‘This is the time for us to engage America, manage China, cultivate Europe, reassure Russia, bring Japan into play, draw neighbours in, extend the neighbourhood and expand traditional constituencies of support.’

I presume Mauritus belongs to that last category, and it is therefore apt to reciprocate with a ‘Namaste, Swagatam’ to Dr Jaishankar in response to the ‘Namaste Mauritius’ that he has posted.

Jai Mauritius, Jai Bharat.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 19 July 2024