Why Bharat Matters: Mapping India’s Rise As a

Civilisational State
pwonlyias.com/editorial-analysis/why-bharat-matters-by-jaishankar/

January 11, 2024

Context: This editorial is based on the news “Mapping India’s rise as a civilisational State”
which was published in the Hindustan Times. Recently, ‘Why Bharat Matters’ book has been
released by External affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

About Why Bharat Matters’ Book: By Dr. S. Jaishankar

Addresing geopolitical challenges: It offers a dialectic between present-day
geopolitical challenges and the ancient wisdom contained in the eternal Hindu epic,
the Ramayana.
Rediscovering cultural roots: It argues that India is regaining its rightful place in the
comity of nations because it has rediscovered its cultural roots and has become an
authentic self-defined force.
Centrality of culture: It advocates the centrality of culture and core values in
piloting a nation’s ascent in the international arena.
Setting own narrative: The antidote to the campaign to malign India’s image, the
writer is of view to effectively communicate “our own narrative” and to invest in strategic
communication at the international level.

1/2
 Analogy of India as the monkey god Hanuman: Analogy of India as the monkey god
Hanuman who undergoes a transformation over the course of the Ramayana through
greater “self-awareness” and “self-discovery”.

Views on: China and West

China: The writer has candidly taken on two principal opponents of India in this book—
an expansionist, aggressive China
He disapproves of illusions of strategic partnerships with China and traces these
arguments to idealism of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
West: India may be non-West but must realize that there is little profit in being anti-
West”.

Conclusion
The book “Why Bharat Matters” advocates that India must be accepted for what it is and
what it represents, not forced to fit into straitjackets that benefit the agendas of others.

Also Refer: West Asia: India’s Geopolitical Opportunity And Challenge

Mains Question: “The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed

and marginalized Nations has disappeared on account of its new found role in the
emerging global order” Elaborate. (15 marks, 250 words)

Must Read

NCERT Notes For UPSC UPSC Daily Current Affairs

UPSC Blogs UPSC Daily Editorials

Copyright © 2023 PWOnlyIAS

2/2