The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World Kindle Edition

I had high hopes for this book based on the author to get insight into India, the country’s outlook, and the general landscape of things.Should have seen this book is based on what looks like several talks and seminars. And in book format, it comes out terrible. It’s idea to idea saying essentially nothing with a lot of hedging words (could, maybe, it’s possible).It does not go into any topic, just surface level references. Given that the average reader probably isn’t a decade long Indian politician, this is problematic.I couldn’t keep going after Ch 2, I read the conclusion and I’m just going to YouTube a few of his talks.

I must confess that having not been able to read the book in its entirety since it was so soporific I may not be considered a reliable reviewer. No one can doubt the vast knowledge and immense experience of the author who has had a distinguished career in his four decades of employment by the Indian government in key diplomatic positions across the world.The book however does not reflect this real life experience ; rather it is a dull rambling dry vague and abstract philosophical repetition of the same old hackneyed themes that one can expect from a master bureaucrat. His analyses are generally accurate but he offers only platitudes for solutions. What the unique India Way was never clear .More specifically I found some things very odd if not bizarre. He asserted that China recognized the inherent rise of India but did not make it clear whether it was as a threat or as a recognition of the rightful place of India in the world order.His chapter on the Mahabharata was probably from a speech he must have given to an Indian audience because I have in all my 50 years in the West never run into a person who has read that epic which Kindle estimates would take at 20 hours of continuous reading to complete . In fact I doubt most Indians have read it either.The disappointment was that the author is the Foreign Minister of India with the job of dealing with the Chinese. With such fuzzy thinking and lack of clear objectives and solutions one wonders whether he is the man for the job.

If you don't have time to read lot of books but still want to stay informed and get enlightened with the world of politics, current affairs, history and application of statecraft pick up Subramaniam Jaishankar's "The India Way".  In just 200 pages he explores history, present and future from the vantage point of a diplomat (who served in US and China) who also happens to be a serving *External affairs minister* of the largest democracy in the world.  In an increasingly multipolar world, it is very important book to read. Short and sweet, it cuts to the chase. Well researched and impeccable argumentsAll with the backdrop of Mahabaratha as a statecraft

Timely delivery, book in excellent condition.Greatly appreciated!

Very well-written but expected better from a man of his stature. I have seen Dr. Jaishankar speaking at various forum. His depth and articulation are amazing.

Good read

Dr. Jaishankar has, in simple language, elucidated the world’s landscape and India’s past and current thinking. A must for anyone interested in world affairs and, specifically from an Indian perspective

Excellent book, explains key focus areas for India in lucid fashion. Strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in current day politics, diplomacy and how to read global tea leaves and adapt.

An eye opener book. Worth reading to understand dynamics across nations

Ready stock & it was delivered quickly.

This book gives reader a panoramic view of what Indian Foreign Policy is all about and the broad direction in which it is headed. Book acquires its importance from the fact that it is coming out of the horses mouth i.e. by none other than India’s own serving Minister of External Affairs at a juncture when the international relations have entered into an era of uncertainty due to the emergence of a new global power with a potential to change the old world order. The book should be of interest to the readers in areas of International Relations and Geopolitics.In diplomacy, it is not usual for a practitioners to let others read their mind. After all, transparency and predictability are not the virtues valued most in this business. But Mr S Jaishankar is no ordinary diplomat par excellence turned minister. To use his own words, it may not be his ‘way’ to let him come under the “pressure of political correctness” or under the “weight of accumulated dogmas”. Hence, if publishing a book on India’s foreign relations while still in the driving seat is a daring act to perform, that is exactly what, the serving Minister of External Affairs has done in his intensely absorbing work “The India Way” written in his most inimitable and contemplative style with the literary flair, for which he is well known.Over-riding the notion that diplomacy is an art of concealing more than revealing, Mr Jaishankar has again broken that taboo by revealing in his book more than enough about the “Indian Way” for the the world to know what Indian diplomacy is all about, how it is different from others and what is unique about India’s foreign policy stance under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. In fact, instead of divulging India’s top national secrets and sensitive information, this work will go down in history as a brilliant exercise of communication and messaging to the world about India’s arrival and its readiness to do business as a responsible , pluralistic, democratic nation with a future, committed to upholding those very values “in terms of geopolitics, shared challenges, market attraction, technology strength or burden sharing”.The book is thoughtfully organised under eight very aptly worded headings, all pregnant with deep meanings. “The lessons of Awadh” recounts how under the “Panipath syndrome” India in the past had often exercised “default option of playing defence” reflective of a mindset that did not comprehend external events well, allowing the events to come upon it, rather anticipating , analysing and leveraging them to its own advantage when they did come.Under “The Art of Disruption” the author emphasises how international events can not be viewed in “exclusion of trends”. He very wittingly observes that in the last two decades or so, “China had been winning without fighting, while US was fighting without winning”. Just to give the reader a feel of the extent of disruption the world is witnessing today, Mr Jaihankar reveals that “in other circumstances, the USA could be practicing the art of the deal. But in an unfavourable landscape, it seems more focused on changing the terms of engagement…and discard what no longer works for it”. Therefore, when “the most powerful nation of our times should change course so sharply, it has a significance that is hard to overstate”. He argues that disruptions are more favourable for the “middle powers” giving birth to a new phenomenon in this multipolar world i. e. plurilateralism .By far the most interesting chapter of the book is the “Krishna’s Choice” wherein the author has drawn unique parallels between a “multipolar world with frenemies” competing with each other to arrive at a balance of power against the backdrop of a clash of values and similar moral dilemmas that “Kaurvas” and “Pandavas”, the two legendry warring groups faced in their epic struggle in Mahabharata. It appears that there are no conceivable situation in modern foreign affairs wherein a clue or an inspiration can not be extracted from a similar situation in the epic. Mr Jaishankar explains this beautifully with large number of examples connecting them to the current state of international relations, which is quite novel and interesting. At the same time he emphasises that world can seldom find elsewhere the values contained in this treasure trove of wisdom that deliberates the dilemmas of statecraft, strategy and actions not with the clinical dry-ness of the treaties of Kautilya, Sun Tzu or Machiavelli but by juxtaposing the complexity of human affairs in the context of human values, propriety, righteousness and tries to show the right path for the entire humanity. In his own words - “Mahabharata is not a compendium of clinical principles of governance…instead it is a graphic account of real life situations and their inherent choices”Those who are looking for the clues about the direction in which the Indian foreign policy is heading , can find them in ample measure in the contents of the chapters that follow i.e. “The Dogmas of Delhi”, “Of Mandrins and Masses”, “The Nimzo-Indian Defence” & “A Delayed Destiny”. Knowing well that the route to realisation of the ultimate geopolitical potential of India passess through the sea, a full chapter is devoted to it under “The Pacific Indian”. However, lack of hard contents related to augumentation of naval prowess in this chapter may disappoint the sea-power enthusiast in India.Indian traditional thirst for strategic autonomy and its aversion to join any vintage military arrangement to bolster its regional security, finds its usual echo in Chapter-2 itself where Mr Jaishankar shares India’s clear preference for “collective security” over “alliance construct”. The viability and reliability of such an arrangement is open for debate. His concept of emergence of southern middle powers and the centrality of ASEAN in any Indo-Pecific security structure is also dealt with briefly in this book. Readers will also find the meticulous account of evolving of Indo Japanese strategic convergence, and consolidation of the concept of QUAD plus, in face of the rise of China, interesting. Their far reaching strategic and economic implications for India as well as the world has also been emphasised. While India’s relations with US, Russia, Europe, Middle East, South East, South Asia, China, Japan and even Africa has been discussed at length, what is surprising that discussion on its all important and crucial relationship with Israel has been played down by making only passing mentions at few pages, raising a doubt if it was done deliberately on some purpose ?Overall, It is a an excellent book for the global audience , both professionals and casual ,as much for its highly relevant and authentic contents coming strait from the horse’s mouth as much for the lucidity of language, style and abundant of insightful expressions that are treat for both mind as well as intellect.India’s struggle to find its bearing in turbulent times and attemts to carve out a global independent identity for itself that is benign, promising, modern, progressive, tech saavy and entirely eager to contribute its bit to the world peace and prosperity in an “uncertain world” is well “strategized” in this book.The book deserves high accolade with a wish that it achieves the grand success of reaching the widest global audience to whom it is primarily addressed.About Reviewer -RS Mehta is a veteran IAF officer retired from the Indian Air Force as a Group Captain in 2012 and currently a visiting faculty in the Departmrnt of History, at Amity University, Noida, researching “Geopolitical Impact of BRI on South Asia and Indian ocean Region” at the same university.

As a reader with a keen interest in international relations and diplomacy, I recently had the privilege of diving into "The India Way," a captivating book authored by none other than India's esteemed External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar. This remarkable literary piece delves into India's foreign policy with unparalleled clarity, offering profound insights into the nation's diplomatic strategies and global engagement.From the very first pages, it becomes evident that Dr. S. Jaishankar has not only crafted an engaging narrative but also showcases his profound understanding of India's position in the world and its aspirations as a rising global power. Drawing on his extensive experience as a seasoned diplomat, the author expertly navigates through the complexities of India's foreign policy, illuminating the rationale behind the nation's key decisions on the international stage.One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to capture the historical context that has shaped India's approach to international relations. By tracing the evolution of India's foreign policy from its post-independence era to the present day, readers gain a comprehensive understanding of the nation's diplomatic principles and core values. The author skillfully intertwines historical anecdotes with contemporary events, revealing the continuity and adaptability of India's foreign policy in a rapidly changing world.Throughout the book, Dr. Jaishankar strikes a fine balance between academic analysis and personal anecdotes, making complex concepts accessible to readers of various backgrounds. His articulate and lucid writing style keeps the reader engaged, and his pragmatic outlook fosters a sense of optimism about India's future in the global arena."The India Way" also addresses the challenges that India faces in its pursuit of a more prominent role in world affairs. The book delves into the delicate balance India must maintain between its strategic autonomy and the growing need for collaborative partnerships. Dr. Jaishankar emphasizes the importance of economic engagement, cultural diplomacy, and the significance of emerging as a responsible global player.As an Indian reader, I found myself both inspired and informed by this remarkable account of India's foreign policy. Dr. Jaishankar's dedication to serving the nation and his passion for diplomacy shines through every page, making "The India Way" an invaluable source for anyone interested in India's journey on the world stage.In conclusion, "The India Way" is an absolute must-read for not only diplomats and policy-makers but also for individuals who seek a deeper understanding of India's aspirations, challenges, and contributions to the global community. S. Jaishankar's masterful storytelling and profound insights make this book a definitive guide to comprehending the India way in foreign affairs.

It is very good book. But if you are not into geo politics then it might be hard to understand and boring at times. But overall this book is fantastic