Need to look at Indian history with fresh eyes: Jaishankar

“Of what are we about? How have we got to where we are? What are the forces which drove us? I think it is important today to look at all of these, if necessary, with fresh eyes, with an open mind”.

Jaishankar said that one must observe the big political discussions of the world.

“Not just who is talking, but also what they are talking about, whose terms they are using and what is the narrative. That is where, if we reflect on it, you realize the world perhaps has not changed as much as we think it has,” he said, giving examples of phrases such as ‘Gordian knot’, and ‘Trojan Horse’, which have been universalised.

“I emphasize this because today, these words, these concepts, these metaphors, this is really what power is about,” the minister said.

Jaishankar asked the audience, mostly students, about what comes to their mind when we talk about international relations, philosophy, and history.

“You will know Greek philosophers, Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Roman history has become mainstreamed into global thinking,” he added.

He pointed out that not often in the world of International Relations do we consider Indian works such as Arthashastra, Neeti Shastra, Akshacharita, or even Ramayana and Mahabharata as strategic expressions or actually examples of statecraft.

He said this western construct has been formed and propagated because of the western hegemonism for over 300 years. For them, superior powers means superior ideas, he said.
Another reason for this is widespread acceptance of western constructs, he said, is actually ourselves (Asians).
He said that in the last one century, especially in Asia, a lot Asians leaders have associated Western ideas with modernism and in many cases, sought to put their own cultures behind them.
Prof Dr S.B. Mujumdar, Chancellor, Symbiosis International (Deemed University) presided over the function.
Pro-Chancellor Dr Vidya Yeravdekar gave welcome address, while Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ramakrishnan Raman gave vote of thanks.
Prof. Shivali Lawale, Director Symbiosis School of International Studies was the anchor of the programme.