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Pune. Foreign Minister S. When Jaishankar was asked in Pune whether ‘one Jaishankar’ is enough for the country. So the answer he gave stole the show. He compared himself to ‘Hanuman’ and described PM Modi in the role of Ram. Apart from this, he also threw light on the pain of partition and India’s old relations with the Gulf countries. Jaishankar also told how Russian President Putin wants to invite Indian talent to his country.
At the Pune Book Fair, when the anchor praised the Foreign Minister and asked whether one Jaishankar is enough for the country? So he very politely declared this question wrong. Jaishankar said, ‘Your question is wrong. You should have asked me whether Modi is one. Because in the end only Shri Hanuman serves. He made it clear that countries are defined by leaders and their vision. There are people who implement it. But in the end it is vision, leadership and confidence that makes the difference in today’s times. This statement of Jaishankar shows how much he trusts the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.
Today’s world is like ‘coalition politics’, there are no permanent friends.
Jaishankar gave a wonderful example to explain today’s world. He said that today’s world is like the era of ‘coalition politics’. He said, “No one has a majority. No alliance has a majority. That’s why new equations are constantly being made. Deals are being made. Someone goes up and someone comes down.” Jaishankar said that ‘multipolar world’ is like having many parties. Sometimes you are with one on some issue. Sometimes with others on other issues. But amidst all this I have only one principle. And that is to help my country. Whatever is useful for my country is my choice.
Why is Russian President Putin inviting Indians?
Jaishankar spoke very positively on the issue of ‘brain drain’ i.e. talent migration. He presented it as an opportunity rather than a problem. He said that today is a global opening for Indian talent. He also mentioned his recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Jaishankar said that Putin is very keen to invite Indians to work in Russia. Jaishankar said, “When I look at the demography of the world and look at Europe. There is a debate going on on immigration. Still, Indians are respected. Today ‘Brand India’ has been created in the world. The youth should take advantage of this and see the whole world as their workplace.”
India became a trouble-shooter for neighboring countries
Jaishankar told how India supported its neighbors in difficult times. He said, “Last week there was a big storm in Sri Lanka. On the same day, India reached there with help. Remember the times of Covid. Ask your neighbors where your vaccine came from? It came from India. When the Ukraine war started and everyone’s petrol, wheat and fertilizer supplies were cut off. Then India extended a helping hand.”
‘I am tired of reading books written by the British’
The Foreign Minister also raised questions on the attitude of western countries. He said, “Most of the text books we get are written by Westerners. I was tired of reading again and again that we are very strategic. But India has no tradition of strategy. This is wrong. We have grown up with our beliefs and culture. The problem is that we do not use our words. And the world also does not know our words. The world’s largest Hindu temple is not in India but in Cambodia. We have to tell the world what we are.”
