In his book Diplomacy, Indian Style, Ambassador K. P. Fabian writes that “according to Greek mythology, Athena came out of the head of Zeus, fully grown and fully armed. There is a popular notion that India’s foreign policy came out of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s head in a similar fashion. That notion is wrong.”
India has been more textual rather than contextual in its assessment of policy. How then can India better adapt its foreign policies to befit the current state of affairs? Understanding the rationale behind India’s diplomatic decisions is essential for policymakers and citizens alike, so as to take better decisions in the future.
Gateway House hosted Ambassador K. P. Fabian, former Ambassador to Italy, in discussion with Jaythirth Rao, Founder of MphasiS, to discuss the nature of Indian diplomacy. The panelists, using references from the book, examined the causes and ramifications of India’s foreign policy decisions made in the past and deliberated on ways to take better diplomatic decisions in the future.
Ambassador K. P. Fabian served in the Indian Foreign Service between 1964 and 2000, during which time he was posted to Madagascar, Austria, Iran, Sri Lanka, Canada, Finland, Qatar, and Italy. Since leaving the service, Fabian has been active in the development sector. He is currently the President of AFPRO (Action For Food Production) and IGSSS (Indo-Global Social Service Society).
Jaithirth Rao is the founder and former CEO of the software company MphasiS. He is currently the Executive Chairman of Value and Budget Housing Corporation. He is also a founder and director of Homefirst Finance Corporation, a housing finance company for self-employed persons. During his 20-year banking career, he served with Citi and its parent Citicorp in various capacities in Asia, Europe, South America, and North America.
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