"Conflicting Interests But Fundamental Unity": Jaishankar Likens Quad Nations To Four Sons Of Dashrath During Book Launch

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar drew parallels from the Ramayana to elucidate India's foreign policy on Wednesday (3 January). He likened diplomats to the character of Hanuman, the Quad nations - India, Japan, Australia, and the US - to Dasharath's four sons, and regarded France as a supportive ally, akin to Lakshman.

Drawing a direct comparison between Quad and Dasharath's four sons - Ram, Bharat, Lakshman, and Shatrughan, the foreign minister stated that despite their "conflicting interests", they have a fundamental unity. He further added, "When they meet, suddenly everything starts to work”.

At the unveiling of his book, Why Bharat Matters, published by Rupa Publishers in New Delhi, Jaishankar presented his analysis of India's foreign policy. He used the epic Ramayana as a lens to explore various aspects of statecraft, such as diplomacy, stress management, and the significance of alliances.

His second book follows The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World, published in 2020. Jaishankar's previous work discussed the intriguing parallels between India's present political stance and Krishna's position during the Mahabharata era.

In his most recent publication, he criticised Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India, arguing that China's interests were prioritised over India's in matters relating to the UN Security Council.