SubscriberWrites: The Elephantine Path–India’s role in the International Jungle

India's strategic role in global affairs resembles the wise elephant in The Jungle Book: strong, benevolent, and poised to lead with wisdom, if it nurtures its internal growth and unity first.

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As a kid growing up, my first exploration of international relations, law of the jungle, and third party arbitration was from the stories of The Jungle Book. In a particularly memorable episode, the jungle was facing a period of drought, there wasn’t enough water, and whichever species could flee the heat, had already done so. Whoever remained, felt battered by the vagaries of nature, there was no food security and real possibility of starvation. Looking at the news coming out of various corners of the world lately, like the middle-eastern conflicts, the trans-atlantic schism, the reorienting North and East Asia, the menacing South Asian cauldron etc., I can’t but draw similarities with the situation of that drought in Mowgli’s jungle. If any of you readers have watched The Jungle Book, you might recollect that the situation was managed by the wise old hathi who invoked and enforced a temporary ceasefire in the jungle around the remaining water source. In a world where news is dominated by the activities of the Eagle (USA), the Dragon (China), and the Bear (Russia), and lately, the Pack of Wolves (European Union), I can’t help but draw a preordained connection between the hathi of The Jungle Book and our Indian moniker of the Elephant in the diplomatic discourses.

A lot of foreign media’s bemusement has been around trying to understand where does the Elephant stand, in all these worldly matters. Our Minister for External Affairs seems to have the unenviable job of a slack-lining gymnast when it comes to facilitating the Elephant walk the tightrope of strategic equidistance. We keep alluding to strategic autonomy, pragmatic self-interest, and avoiding any false dichotomies presented to us in the global arena. Our reluctance in sermonising the actions of the others is quite evident, and perhaps rightly so. 

We could perhaps one day play the hathi’s role in the jungle, thanks to our long civilizational memory, non-expansive disposition, and ability to look beyond a zero sum attitude.

A couple of steps taken by the Modi Government seem to steer us in the direction of being this hathi from The Jungle Book – Voice of the Global South Summit as well as the projection of India as Vishwamitra and Vishwaguru. These might sound pompous to a foreign ear, but I think our government is onto something with this positioning of the Elephant’s role in the jungle. 

In a world where the global leaders and the apex predators alike are clearing away, reorienting, and talking about “nation first” policies, smaller and middle powers can sense a vacuum forming. There is an opportunity to reimagine global leadership now, not one that is forced upon the world based on economic or military might alone, but one that is based on wisdom and moral high ground which a civilizational power with millenia old rich tradition of statecraft can offer, without coercion or intimidation. For this, a hathi is required. 

One who is large enough, strong enough, and benevolent enough. One who exudes great confidence and deep wisdom. One who can garner international respect, and more importantly, international trust as someone who works with the pragmatic intention of true greater good.

This is a hathi who can fill the hole being carved in the absence of dependable international institutions, general dearth of global leadership in today’s troubled jungle.

An opportunistic hathi, a vengeful hathi, a hathi that schemes against their adversaries from a purely realpolitik mindset risks losing this opportunity to garner global goodwill or risks handing over cards to the opponents of its rise. 

Notwithstanding the necessity to tackle the threats to the Elephant’s well-being from the mosquitoes, the parasites, and the occasional snakes in our backyard, our government would be wise to not be trigger happy. Patience can be a virtue, as every move an elephant makes is easily noticed by the jungle – such is the size.

Additionally, a weak hathi, an unhealthy hathi, a hathi whose gait is slowed by disproportionate strength among its limbs can not enforce its will upon the jungle, for benevolent ends or otherwise. 

Without an inwards look at its own well-being. Without taking care of all aspects of the body, not giving nourishment and nutrition, a hathi cannot grow large and strong, which is the prerequisite to becoming Vishwaguru and Vishwamitra. A weak and puny deformed elephant is but a beast of prey for the predators. 

Perhaps the best move we as a nation can make for our interests in the world, is to look inward, nourish our populace with fair and equitable welfare, provide nutrition through human development initiatives in education and health, and distribute employment opportunities across all communities of this nation. 

Perhaps the best geopolitical move India can make today is self-nourishment.

These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.