‘India keen on maintaining balance’

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

World politics, once centred on the two poles (US and USSR), became unipolar after the collapse of the USSR and would soon become a multi-polar world with at least six countries having decisive power. India is trying to establish its place in the changing world, said former Indian diplomat and author TP Sreenivasan.

Presenting his latest book, ‘Modiplomacy: Through a Shakespearean Prism’ at the ongoing Sharjah International Book Fair, the former envoy said that India and the US are very keen on maintaining the existing balance in the Indo-Pacific region.

“China is likely to overtake the United States in terms of economic growth and political influence shortly. Not only the United States, but all of China’s neighbours, including India, are concerned,” he added.

‘Modiplomacy: Through a Shakespearean Prism’ revolves around Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic relations with foreign countries, his diplomatic efforts and the flaws and triumphs of those efforts.

Sreenivasan said the book does not contain any praise or criticism of Narendra Modi. He said that he had evaluated Narendra Modi’s diplomacy in the book in light of his thirty-seven years’ experience in the diplomatic field during the tenure of Indian prime ministers from Indira Gandhi to Manmohan Singh.

The book compares Narendra Modi’s diplomatic efforts with the Shakespearean drama, where changing fortunes of a Shakespearean hero whose central role in the play is controlled by his sterling characteristics, yet besides, by his awful blemishes and conditions which go outside his ability to control.

He said, “Foreign policy is a legitimate process with continuum. It can never stand still.”

In his foreword to the book, bestselling author and columnist Pranay Gupte has written that ‘Modiplomacy: Through a Shakespearean Prism’ is a unique work of contemporary history by a writer who has a background of learning and teaching English literature and a wealth of experience of diplomacy in the Indian Foreign Service for 37 years. As he watched the unfolding of Narendra Modi’s brand of diplomacy for five years, he saw in it the changing fortunes of a Shakespearean hero, whose central role in the play is dictated not only by his sterling qualities but also by his tragic flaws and circumstances which go beyond his control.