Foreign policy begins at home

In his latest book, Dhruva Jaishankar explains the origin and meaning of the Sanskrit words Vishwa Shastra, used in the title, as "treatise of the world". As he writes, "For it to be India's world, a Vishwa Shastra is necessary".

- GUNJAN SINGH

The book, however, is "a basic introduction to India and the world, one that remedies some of the shortcomings of the existing literature". That's exactly what the author achieves.

Vishwa Shastra is full of information and follows a linear approach to analyse the nuances of the Indian foreign policy. From ancient to modern, Mr Jaishankar attempts to highlight key events, decisions and policy shifts that have been crucial in moulding Indian foreign policy.

The book paints a detailed picture of the path that India adopted to reach its current foreign policy paradigms, dwelling on the limitations as well as the challenges. The book is a great addition to the literature on Indian foreign policy, principally because it provides a bird's eye view. It is not focused on any one region or a specific time frame, and thus, offers a global perspective on India's position in the international order. It also succeeds in explaining how major foreign policy decisions were curated and what motivated them.

Most importantly, Mr Jaishankar combines India's domestic policy decisions with its foreign policy decisions because, as he argues, "...to start, foreign policy will have to begin at home." He adds, "Just as its foreign policy begins at home, India's domestic policy will have to have an inherently international character."