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The Print
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Dhankhar invokes Savarkar's realism, backs national interest as India's international diplomacy compass
'Browsing through the pages of New World, I felt the imprint of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the author's thought… Savarkar, despite all the untenable misgivings in extremity, remains a celebrated thinker…,' Dhankhar said. At the launch of the book 'New World: 21st Century Global Order in India', authored by senior RSS leader & India Foundation president Ram Madhav, Dhankhar said he saw a Savarkarite lens in the author's worldview. New Delhi: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar Monday recalled Vinayak Damodar Savarkar who had said that global politics is dictated by realism and self-interest, not morality or solidarity. 'Savarkar, a staunch realist, believed in a post-war world where nations would act only in pursuit of their own interests not based on idealism, morality or international solidarity. Imagine how prophetic he has been. Look around—last fortnight, last 3 months. All this has been seen by all of us,' he said. He also echoed Savarkar's critique of Western institutions, saying the nationalist leader had rejected 'pacifist or utopian internationalism' and 'emphasised that India must safeguard its sovereignty through strength, not by relying on Western-dominated institutions like the League of Nations or later the United Nations, both ignoring due place to one-sixth of humanity.' Also read: 'Picture of ideal democracy': Mohan Bhagwat praises political unity post-Pahalgam, calls for self-reliance 'Strengthening Bharat is the governing philosophy today' In a strong endorsement of the Modi government's worldview, Dhankhar said: 'Friends, today, strengthening Bharat is the governing philosophy and resolve of this government. It is steadfast, firm, non-negotiable, and notwithstanding the critics—it is spinally strong.' 'Let us not be misguided by the distraction—who said what. The government, and India and its people, stand firmly for the nation—nation first and our nationalism… Those who take a stand for momentary situations are not in the psyche or groove of Bharat. Once we attain strength inwards, we can shape our strategic environment outwards,' he added. Backing Ram Madhav's thesis in the book, he said, 'I couldn't agree more with the lamentations of the author Dr. Ram Madhav. He highlights a perpetual decline of global multilateralism and prescribes India to give up romanticism and focus on economic growth.' 'George Tanham was wrong—India's strategic thought is deep-rooted' The Vice-President also took on longstanding Western criticisms about India's lack of strategic culture. 'George Tanham, an American thinker, 3 decades ago, in a treatise effectively suggested that there is absence of a strategic thinking in India on account of its Hindu philosophical roots and there were takers of it. But with Shri Ram Madhav's volume, George Tanham stands corrected. He couldn't be more wrong,' Dhankhar said. He added: 'The principle 'Rajadharma' (ethical statecraft) and 'Dharmayudha' (just war) in Mahabharata; Dhamma diplomacy in Ashokan edicts; and the Mandala Theory of Kautilya are all examples of theorising strategic environments—all feast to the intellect. These philosophies have ever been relevant, but in our contemporaneous challenging times, these are the needs of the global order.' 'India must re-strategise for a shifting global order'—Ram Madhav Speaking to the media after the launch, author Ram Madhav said the world is shifting away from the liberal international order formed post-World War II, and India must reorient its strategy to keep pace. 'We are moving away from the international liberal order that was created some 75 years ago. We are entering into a new kind of world,' he said. He cited the emergence of China and the rising importance of smaller nations like Turkey. 'In our recent clash with Pakistan, we not only talked about Pakistan, but also about Turkey. So, the realisation is Turkey is also a power today,' he said. Madhav pointed out that wars are now being fought in unconventional ways—'no army is facing each other'—and that India must adapt quickly if it wants to become a Viksit Bharat by 2047. 'India has to re-strategise its whole future trajectory…That means doing some very important things and becoming a very proactive participant in this new order,' he said. He added that international diplomacy must now be grounded in national interest, not ideological loyalty. 'In politics and diplomacy, there are no permanent friends and no permanent foes…That was a romantic approach of the past. There are only permanent interests.' He also emphasised India's message to global institutions, saying, 'India has told the UN leadership that you are not delivering…you are failing. If you fail, we have to look for other ways…other countries will have to come forward.' Underscoring New Delhi's diplomatic positioning amid global conflicts, Madhav said: 'India is not taking sides, India is fighting—or is working—for peace.' Trump, Iran bombing, China, Kargil 2.0—a volatile new world The backdrop to Monday's discussion was a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape. Tensions in West Asia have intensified in recent months, with the long-simmering Iran-Israel conflict spilling over into open confrontation. The US, a key Israeli ally, has become directly involved following a series of escalations, including Iranian missile strikes and retaliatory US airstrikes on Iranian military targets—marking a significant deepening of the regional conflict. Congress MP Manish Tewari, who also spoke at the event, listed these global crises while framing the shifts in strategic thinking. 'There are unprecedented trade tensions across the world triggered by President Trump's attempt to restructure the international architecture of commerce. The Russia-Ukraine war that began in February of 2022, the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah-Houthi-Iran conflict that broke out in October of 2023, and the rise of China over the past three decades that has attained potential overtones in large parts of the world beyond the immediate Chinese realms in North Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The added dynamic is the latest India-Pakistan standoff, the worst after the Kargil war 26 years ago, and now the US bombing of Iran. Modern strategic thought is essentially a European construct because of the experimentation with ideas and the impulses of colonialism,' Tewari said. 'Democracy means dialogue' Spealing about the 'sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramayah' philosophy, Dhankhar said, 'Friends, even the Fabian socialists of the 50s cannot disagree with the direction of the country as we strive to attain. And what do we strive to attain? We are not creating Bharat, it was not born on 15 August, 1947. We only got rid of the colonial power then. 'Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramayah'—that is our philosophy. May all beings be happy, may all beings be free from illness.' Adding to this philosophical dimension, Dhankhar underlined the centrality of expression and dialogue to India's democratic ethos. 'We firmly believe that democracy is primarily defined by expression and dialogue. Both are complementary. This, in our Vedic philosophy, is anantavada. One of the fundamentals is, and that is inalienable facet, non-negotiable, respect the others' point of view. My own experience shows, more often than not, the other point of view is the correct point of view.' Cautioning against internal division, Dhankhar urged political dialogue and maturity. 'Friends, the pathway to Bharat's rise would require careful treading. There are forces that are determined to make our life difficult. There are forces within the country and outside. These sinister forces, pernicious to our interests, want to strike by dividing us on issues even like language,' he said. 'Which country in the world can take pride in their language richness like Bharat can? Look at our classical languages, their number. In parliament, 22 such languages allow and afford opportunity for anyone to express in them.' 'It would require many such thinkers to come together and debate and discuss challenges and opportunities and aid policymakers in making right strategic choices. Evolution of policies must take place now with a little more representative character.' Calling for political convergence, Dhankhar concluded that 'convergence' is required. 'There has to be greater dialogue among political parties. I firmly believe we have no enemies in the country. We have enemies outside. And some who are enemies within—a small fraction—they are rooted in outside forces, inimical to Bharat.' (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Savarkar severely criticised RSS for its 'purely cultural' orientation
India Gazette
24-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Bihar: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar plants tree in memory of his late parents at LN Mishra College
Muzaffarpur (Bihar) [India], June 24 (ANI): Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday planted a tree in memory of his late parents, Kesari Devi and Gokal Chand, at Bihar's LN Mishra College of Business Management, accompanied by a state minister, Nitish Mishra. 'Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today planted a tree in memory of his late mother, Smt. Kesari Devi and late father Shri Gokal Chand in the campus of LN Mishra College of Business Management, Muzaffarpur, Bihar,' read a post by the office of the Vice President. VP Dhankhar is in Bihar's Muzaffarpur to attend the founder's day event in LN Mishra College. Earlier, as the VP landed in Bihar, he was welcomed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary and Minister Vijay Choudhary. Earlier on June 23, Dhankhar said that strengthening Bharat is the governing philosophy and resolve of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, while speaking at the launch of the book 'New World: 21st Century Global Order in India' by Ram Madhav in Delhi. 'Friends, today, strengthening Bharat is the governing philosophy and resolve of this government. It is steadfast, firm, non-negotiable, and notwithstanding the critics -- it is spinally strong. The nation has never projected its stand so firmly. Let us not be misguided by the distraction -- who said what,' Dhankhar said. 'The government, and India and its people, stand firmly for the nation--nation first and our who take a stand for momentary situations are not in the psych or groove of Bharat. Once we attain strength inwards, we can shape our strategic environment outwards,' he added. The Vice-President also said that browsing through the pages of 'New World: 21st Century Global Order in India', he felt the imprint of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the author's thought. Dhankar said, 'Savarkar, despite all the untenable misgivings and misgivings in extremity, remains a celebrated thinker who stood at the wee hours of the post-war order. Savarkar, a staunch realist, believed in a post-war world where nations would act only in pursuit of their own interests, not based on idealism, morality or international solidarity.' (ANI)
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
BJP leader Ram Madhav book launch event: Contemporary global scenario concerning for peace-loving nations, says Dhankhar
There has to be greater dialogue amongst political parties as we have no enemies in the country and the political temperature has to come down, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Monday even as he expressed concern about the 'contemporaneous global scenario' which he said is 'worrisome' for peace-loving nations like Bharat. Speaking at the launch of senior BJP leader Ram Madhav's book — 'New World: 21st Century Global Order in India' — in Delhi on Monday, Dhankhar also asserted that India's rise is benign as it has never engaged in expansionism. 'Evolution of policies must take place now with a little more representative character. India's think tanks, they are available in various formats, different political parties. It is required that there be convergence…the political temperature has to come down. There has to be greater dialogue amongst political parties. I firmly believe we have no enemies in the country. We have enemies outside… enemies within, a small fraction, are rooted to outside forces inimical to Bharat,' he said. Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Dhankhar said the road to the country's rise requires careful treading. 'There are forces that are determined to make our life difficult. There are forces within the country and outside. These sinister forces, pernicious to our interests, want to strike by dividing us on issues like language,' he said, adding that India can take pride in its language richness and that even MPs can express themselves in 22 languages inside Parliament. He pointed out that India has always stood for global peace and harmony and never engaged at any time in its history in expansionism. 'The contemporary global scenario today is alarmingly concerning and also equally worrisome, particularly for peace-loving nations like Bharat…As Bharat achieves universal well-being for all citizens, we become a role model for others,' he said. Referring to V D Savarkar as a 'celebrated thinker who stood at the wee hours of the post-war order', Dhankhar said the ideologue was prophetic. 'Savarkar, a staunch realist, believed in a post-war world where nations would act only in pursuit of their own interests not based on idealism, morality or international solidarity. Imagine how prophetic he has been. Look around last fortnight, last three months. All this has been seen by all of us. He rejected pacifist or utopian internationalism and emphasised that India must safeguard its sovereignty through strength, not by relying on Western-dominated institutions like the League of Nations or later the United Nations, both ignoring due place to one-sixth of humanity,' he said. The VP also said the Modi government has been 'steadfast, firm, non-negotiable, and notwithstanding the critics — it is spinally strong.' According to him, 'the nation has never ever projected its stand so firmly'. Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari, former foreign secretary Shyam Saran and former Union minister Suresh Prabhu also spoke at the event.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Global politics dictated by realism and self-interest and not solidarity: V-P Jaideep Dhankhar
Hailing V.D. Savarkar as a 'celebrated thinker who stood against the post-war order', Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday (June 23, 2025) argued that global politics is dictated by realism and self-interest and not morality or solidarity. Citing the present global scenario, Mr. Dhankhar called for a shift in India's foreign policy imagination and added that this was the right time to move beyond 'romanticism' and focus on economic and strategic strength. Speaking at the launch of a book written by senior Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leader Ram Madhav titled New World: 21st Century Global Order in India, the Vice-President warned that enemies of the country are not just outside but also within, and that some forces are determined to make the lives of Indians difficult, even by dividing people on issues like language. 'These sinister forces, pernicious to our interests, want to strike by dividing us on issues like language. Which country in the world can take pride in language richness as Bharat? Look at our classical languages, their number. In Parliament, 22 such languages allow and afford the opportunity to anyone expressing their views in them. It would require many such thinkers to come together and debate and discuss challenges and opportunities and aid policymakers in making right strategic choices,' he said. Comparing the book and Sarvarkar's ideology, Mr. Dhankhar said he felt the imprints of Savarkar in the author's thoughts. 'Savarkar, despite all the untenable misgivings in extremity, remains a celebrated thinker who stood at the wee hours of the post-war order. He was staunch realist and believed in a post-war world where nations would act only in pursuit of their own interests not based on idealism, morality or international solidarity. Imagine how prophetic he has been,' said the Vice-President as he asked the audience to look at the present times where the world saw wars and destruction. Praising the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for its diplomacy, Mr. Dhankhar said that the new India is steadfast, firm, non-negotiable, and notwithstanding the critics — is spinally strong. 'I could not agree more with lamentations of the author Ram Madhav. He highlights a perpetual decline of global multilateralism and prescribes India to give up romanticism and focus on economic growth', he said adding that similar thoughts were also mooted by Sarvarkar. Speaking to the media at his book launch, Mr. Madhav said that his book focuses on the world shifting from the liberal international order formed post World War II. He said that it is high time that India reorient its strategy to keep pace. Citing China as a powerful growing nation, he also gave example how Turkiye turned out to be a powerful factor during recent Indo-Pakistan military conflict. 'In our recent clash with Pakistan, we not only talked about Pakistan but also about Turkey. So the realisation is Turkey is also a power today,' he said, adding that the wars are now being fought in unconventional ways where no army faced each other. 'In such situations, India has to re-strategise its whole future trajectory… That means doing some very important things and becoming a very proactive participant in this new order,' he said. Replying to a question on Congress's allegations that India is not doing enough for its old friend Iran amid the war concerns, Mr. Madhav added that international diplomacy must now be grounded in national interest, not ideological loyalty. 'In politics and diplomacy, there are no permanent friends and no permanent foes… That was a romantic approach of the past. There are only permanent interests.' He also emphasised India's message to global institutions, saying, 'India has told the UN [United Nations] leadership that you are not delivering… you are failing. If you fail, we have to look for other ways… other countries will have to come forward.' Underscoring New Delhi's diplomatic posturing amid global conflicts, Mr. Madhav said: 'India is not taking sides, India is fighting—or is working—for peace.' Congress MP Manish Tewari, speaking at the event, highlighted global volatility. 'The Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah-Houthi-Iran conflict, the India-Pakistan standoff, and now the U.S. bombing of Iran — we are looking at a world in a flux,' he said. 'Modern strategic thought is essentially a European construct…'
