Big issues of the world cannot be solved without India now: Jaishankar at IIM Kolkata

Delivering a lecture on "India and the World" at IIM-Calcutta’s 33rd Institute’s Lecture Series earlier this week,  Jaishankar said, “We see a growing recognition in the world that India is getting its acts together”.

“Big issues of the world cannot be solved without India's participation and contribution. Today India matters more in the world, and we must make the best out of it,” he said.

“Overcoming the challenges of past years have earned us great credit," he said, pointing out India's handling of the Covid crisis, robust economic recovery, growing economic relevance to the world reflected in greater FDI inflows, greater manufacturing, stronger exports and emergence of start-ups. 

He said India's stature grew because of its resolute national policies, a willingness to look out for others and often serve as the first responder in humanitarian or disaster response situations.

"We now have the ability and responsibility to shape the global landscape. It is expressed in new concepts like Indo-Pacific, mechanisms like Quad or I2U2 or initiatives like the International Solar Alliance," he said.

"On the economic front, we have been judicious in the manner and extent of engaging the world," he added.

The minister addressed the impact and reputation of India on global platforms. He discussed important milestones of India during the pandemic where the nation played a key role in vaccine manufacturing, bringing back Indians during the COVID era and the Ukraine conflict.

He said the Ukraine conflict has dramatically widened the scope of political leveraging.

He said everything in international relations has been weaponized. "In recent years, we have already seen how trade, connectivity, debt, resources and even tourism have become the point of political pressure. The Ukraine conflict has dramatically widened the scope of such leveraging," Jaishankar said.

The Institute Lecture Series is an initiative by IIM Kolkata through which they want their students and faculty to develop a broader perspective of their responsibility to society and to give them an opportunity to listen to remarkable life stories of  of speakers. 

(Reporting by Ayush Gupta)