22nd November, 2016: ‘Modi Doctrine: The Foreign Policy of India’s Prime Minister,’ a book authored by noted foreign affairs expert and Dean of Jindal School International Affairs, Dr. Sreram Chaulia was officially released on Tuesday. The launch ceremony took place in the august presence of Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, Government of India and other leading dignitaries and foreign affairs experts at the India International Centre in New Delhi.
‘Modi Doctrine’ provides an insightful view of Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policies by delving into the mind and method behind Narendra Modi’s avatar as India’s diplomat-in-chief. Since becoming India’s Prime Minister in 2014, Narendra Modi has been a tour de force in foreign policymaking and under his able watch, India is heading toward great power status in the international order.
Some of the key questions the ‘Modi Doctrine’ addresses, include: ‘Why is he investing so much time and energy into promoting India’s international relations and global image? ‘What are his vision and goals for India’s role in the world?’; ‘What kind of distinct techniques define his approach to foreign policy?’; ‘How is he changing India’s self-understanding and preparing it for world affairs?’
At the launch event, Mr Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister for Railways delivered a special address via video link. He lauded the efforts of Professor Chaulia in producing an insightful manuscript on the country’s premier and said the book showed why PM Modi has been such an outstanding world leader. Congratulating Dr. Chaulia in his effort to bring out the finer nuances of the Modi government’s diplomacy to the reading public, Mr. Prabhu said the book is a valuable contribution to understanding and interpreting the proactive approach of PM Modi in foreign affairs.
Speaking on the occasion, chief guest, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office said that the book would have a long shelf life and would be a “publisher’s delight.” He noted that the book would also serve as a vital reference book for intelligentsia as well as foreign affair experts. He added that PM Modi’s vision and courage to implement tough choices in domestic and foreign policies will bring long-term benefits to India for generations to come.
On this occasion, Professor (Dr) C Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, O. P. Jindal Global University said that Professor Chaulia was an outstanding scholar in international relations and that his book “provides an interesting insight on the bold initiatives and transformative policies of Prime Minister Modi who has heralded a new era in the country’s foreign policy and brought about a paradigm shift in India’s external affairs. These initiatives not only capture Prime Minister’s commitment to protect strategic interests but are also aimed towards creating greater prosperity and development at home.”
Speaking on the occasion, Professor (Dr.) Sreeram Chaulia, the author of the book said, “We were under-performing and under-delivering in world affairs until Narendra Modi came in. Our lethargy and lackadaisical approach to international relations have transformed in the last two-and-a-half years largely by dint of PM Modi’s personal drive and belief in India playing a larger role and becoming a global leader. This is a political book, and it describes how political will at the top can change the way India deals with the world.”
He added, “Modi’s approach is not textbook diplomacy. His successful traits come from long stints in public life since his RSS days. There is a method in his diplomatic outreach. This book is an attempt to try and see deeper insights into the global policymaking of our PM.”
Mr Rajiv Beri, Managing Director, Bloomsbury India, publisher of the book said, “We consider this book amongst our major publications this year. The book talks about a lot of positives about Mr. Modi, that have actually happened and need to be told.”
Mr. Modi, a vastly experienced administrator who has held key public positions as Chief Minister of an Indian state for more than a decade, and now as Prime Minister, has always seen value in foreign affairs and devoted special attention to it with his unique entrepreneurial flair and coherent set of ideas.
The book is not only a work on Mr. Modi and his international ambitions, but it also takes a critical look at the necessary ingredients which future governments have to incorporate into their foreign policy matrixes.
About the author
Sreeram Chaulia is Professor and Dean at the Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P. Jindal Global University, in Sonipat, India. He is an eclectic political scientist specialising in both international security and international political economy. He is a contributing editor of People Who Influenced the World (Murray Books, Adelaide, 2005) and the sole author of International Organizations and Civilian Protection: Power, Ideas and Humanitarian Aid in Conflict Zones (I.B. Tauris, London, 2011) and of Politics of the Global Economic Crisis: Regulation, Responsibility and Radicalism (Routledge, New Delhi, London and New York, 2013). He received education from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University; University College, Oxford University; The London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. He is a leading opinion columnist for Indian newspapers- the Economic Times and the Asian Age- on world affairs and a commentator on international current issues on radio and television in India and abroad. He has worked as an international civilian peacekeeper in the warzones of Sri Lanka and the Philippines.