Addressing an event at Kirori Mal College, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized India’s growing global significance, citing achievements in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chandrayaan-3 mission, and various domestic initiatives. His remarks shed light on India’s evolving image on the world stage and its impact on Indians living abroad.
COVID-19 Response and Chandrayaan-3:
Jaishankar highlighted India’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the shift in global perception from concern to admiration for India’s response. He also lauded the Chandrayaan-3 mission, emphasizing its impact on Indians’ perception abroad and showcasing India’s technological progress. He highlighted the Chandrayaan-3 mission and COVID management as two of India’s most significant accomplishments over the past decade.
said, “Probably much more fascinating to the world is actually those technology feats that we do. I would say in the last 10 years, probably the most impactful thing we have done, other than COVID management, was going to the moon. The Chandrayaan-3 mission has had a huge impact on the perception of Indians abroad. And finally, as I said, a lot of it is about actually a country which has the ability to stand up for itself, for its interests, for its citizens, stand up to pressure, and in a sense, you know, radiate its own persona and its culture.”
Security and Assistance to Citizens:
The minister underlined India’s commitment to securing its citizens globally, citing examples like Operation Ganga, which brought back Indian students from Ukraine during crises. He contrasted India’s proactive approach with other nations that left their citizens to fend for themselves, earning India respect and admiration internationally.
Jaishankar said, “The second is the manner in which we secure our citizens of India. Believe me, that has got everybody’s attention in the world. You know, a lot of us rightly are very proud of how – I’ll give you an example of how we got our students out of Ukraine in Operation Ganga. As I said, rightly so. But I also want you to know that there were many countries who actually told their students and their citizens, saying, sorry guys, there’s nothing I can do. You now have to figure out your own way out.”
Value of Indian Passport:
Jaishankar stressed the importance of the Indian passport, not just in terms of visa-free travel but also as a symbol of governmental support during emergencies. He proposed a broader “passport index” that considers a country’s readiness to assist its citizens abroad, highlighting the real value of a passport beyond travel convenience.
He noted, “To me, there is something missing in that index. I would have put which passport are you carrying and who will come for you when you are in trouble. And believe me, if you put that factor in, you will get a very different passport index out there. Not getting a visa and having an ability to travel easily is just one part of it.”
“What happens when something goes wrong? Who will look after you? Who has a system which is ready to back you up when you go out? To me, that’s the real value of the passport. And if the Indian passport today is looked at with greater respect, as I said, one part of it is what you do at home. But the other is also that people know that this passport means that their government stands behind the person who’s carrying the passport,” he added.
Domestic Achievements and Infrastructure Development:
The minister discussed India’s domestic achievements, including infrastructure development and social welfare programs. He highlighted the construction of 40 million houses for low-income families in the past decade, showcasing India’s scale and progress, which has caught global attention.
“The third is our performance at home. And I often share with my own colleagues in the cabinet and in the parliament that they think that when the foreign minister goes out of India, all the time we discuss foreign policy makes sense.”
“But in reality, actually people abroad are enormously fascinated by what we are doing at home in the rest of our lives. They want to know how does your ration system work? How does your election system work? You know, how are you getting your gas cylinder? How are you getting your electricity connection? Why is it that it has changed because they have read all these stories,” he added.
Global Interest and Investment in India:
Jaishankar noted a surge in global interest in investing, knowing, and traveling in India. He emphasized India’s role in globalizing talent and creating pathways for skill development, indicating vast opportunities for international engagement and collaboration.
“We are speaking about Japan. Let me give you a number related to Japan. In the last 10 years, We have built 40 million houses and given it to people who are eligible in view of their low income. At 4.8 family, which is the average number in India, that means about 190 million people have got houses in the last 10 years. That’s one and a half times the population of Japan. Now when you tell somebody in Japan, you know, guess what, I’m actually housing one and a half times your size in the last ten years. They then actually get the scale of what is happening in this country. Then there is of course the infrastructure progress. I think we all live in this country, we can see it every day in different ways,” Jaishankar said.
S. Jaishankar’s remarks reflect India’s growing influence and positive perception globally, driven by effective governance, technological achievements, and proactive assistance to its citizens. The minister’s insights underscore India’s evolving role as a key player on the world stage, with immense potential for further growth and collaboration.
This article encapsulates S Jaishankar’s key points from the event, highlighting India’s achievements and global standing under his leadership as the External Affairs Minister.
