"Ram, Lakshman, Hanuman": Jaishankar elucidates why his book has references to Ramayana
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar opened up on the references to epic 'Ramayana' in his book 'Why Bharat Matters' and described India's rise through anecdotes of Lord Ram, Lord Lakshman and Lord Hanuman.
Describing India's rise at the book launch event, Jaishankar talked about the sequence where Lord Ram strings the bow which marked his arrival at the stage. Comparing it to India, he said that India is also very close to that moment.
The book 'Why Bharat Matters' written by S Jaishankar talks of India's quest to ascend the global hierarchy and 'New India' drawing strength from the country's civilisational heritage.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday, Jaishankar said, «We are at that inflexion point (arrival at the big stage).
In the book itself, I have said it's not a single act, there are multiple acts. Even Ram was tested multiple times.
He strung a bow...In our case, there is a series of steps. Some of it is economics, history, the exercise of nuclear power, and the reframing of Bangladesh.
To me the last 10 years, especially the last five years...».
He also compared the situation during the Covid pandemic where India was underestimated, but the country came through it successfully with a more healthy growth rate than other major countries.
«There is one experience of Covid I would never forget. During the G20 virtual conference, the head of the World Bank said, 'India is going to be the big problem.
If there is one part of the world that will buckle up under Covid, it is going to be India',» the EAM said.
He added, «When I look through the Covid experience and watch how we came through it and look today, where we are. One part of it is a 7.7 per cent growth rate, but look at the rest of the transformation
