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By Dr. Vaishali Krishna There is a remarkable change in international affairs as several Nations have shown a range of reactions toward the US & Russia The Russia-Ukraine conflict has not only been influencing the current world order but has also been immensely affecting the global geopolitics. This is so because it has created ripples in geopolitics and has influenced the reorganisation of political factions and their adjustments. This conflict is now no more limited to Russia and Ukraine as it has encircled the entire globe so much so that a war crisis situation has emerged, especially after the pandemic. What is revealing is that it has not only enhanced Europe’s economic problems, but also forced it into the US decisions. As a result, the Asian states have taken the advantage to become a pointer to new emerging power equations. Yet, most of them are hedging their bets and are unwilling to take sides. Many of them have withstood US pressure and are importing cheaper Russian oil and carrying out trading in local currencies. But both Japan and South Korea, which perceive themselves as part of a global alliance of democratic forces and have close security ties with the US, have condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Japan has territorial disputes with both China and Russia, but has flourishing trade with both of them. At the regional level in Asia, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has created a geopolitically fragmented West Asia, where Iraq is moving away from Iran, Qatar from Saudi Arabia, and UAE is pursuing a more independent foreign policy. Turkey has emerged as a big factor as it has military muscle to back its allies, and controls traffic from Black Sea, which allows it to play a major role in the revival of food exports from Ukraine. Though Iran is not directly affected by the conflict, it appears to be emerged as a major game changer in the future. In South Asia, Pakistan is on the verge of collapse as its economy has been adversely impacted by the conflict in addition to suffering from other major issues like soaring oil prices and the shortage of wheat. Similarly, Bangladesh has also been deeply impacted by the conflict in terms of exports and imports as Russia is an important market for its readymade garments besides being a major source of wheat and millet supplies. Decreasing exports and rising import bills, coupled with a disruption of supply lines due to war and sanctions, have severely impacted the global economy. It is obvious that the US is struggling to blend in order to rearrange and restructure its approach towards its partners. In fact, one can witness that Russia-Ukraine conflict is providing a chance to the US and other nations to restore their relationship. A notable change is visible in the attitude of developing nations who have now demonstrated their own approach and integrity by not following the US but concentrating on their own national interests. The US envisions cooperation with India as crucial to help ease Washington’s concerns over the destabilising activities of China in the Indo-Pacific. The US also sees Russia as a strategic threat. India, however, has a historic and enduring relationship with Russia focussing on strong economic, diplomatic and military ties. Russia is a significant supplier of arms to India accounting for about US$13 billion in the last five years. India has also imported a record high Russian crude oil of about 1.6 million barrels per day in February 2023. A complicating factor for India’s strategy, however, is the continuing alignment of Russia and China because of the Kremlin’s isolation from the West over its war on Ukraine. India is promoting itself as a leader in the Global South and remains an enthusiastic member of the BRICS that also includes China, Russia, South Africa and Brazil. There is remarkable change in the international affairs as several countries have shown a range of reactions toward the US and Russia with regard to Russia-Ukraine conflict. India and Iran have taken a relatively neutral position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and have not bothered with the US sanctions against Russia. They have taken a measured and balanced approach in this situation and made choices based on their own national interests. In such a scenario, the US is trying its best to accommodate itself with opportunities as well as challenges in such regions as South Asia or West Asia. This is so because the rising energy prices have had both positive and negative effects on the energy producing countries. On the positive side, rising prices have led to increased revenue and higher international status for energy rich countries. There is development transformation among regional partners. On the negative connotation, the risk of food crisis has reached beyond control giving way to the state of constant fluctuations in the relationship between nations. Many non-traditional security challenges are beyond repair as the Russia-Ukraine conflict is continuing so are the challenges. It now appears that the three superpowers, China, Russia, and the US, will continue to occupy the space on the vertex of the triangle where other developing countries and energy rich countries will have to play tactfully for their own interests without any outside interference. India’s policies towards Russia can best be characterised as an example of its multi-alignment strategy. India enjoys a unique position and has excellent diplomatic relations with Iran, Israel and Arab countries. The US, on the other hand, would like to have full support from India in order to balance Russia-China ties in the current situation. As China has been trying to strengthen its political influence in the West Asia region, it remains interested in strengthening its relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two largest and richest countries in the Gulf. On the Other hand, Russia is humming along in West Asia, pitching arms sales, building nuclear plants, and convening summits. Now with the recent visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US as the state guest and the warm welcome offered by the Biden administration is obvious to picture which shows the anxiousness of the US to balance the Russia-China closeness. Yet, what India has been doing can be seen through the prism of its making serious efforts to reduce the gap between developed and developing nations. #Russia #Ukraine #WarCrisis #GlobalSouth Originally Published : The Republic World, 25th July, 2023 https://www.republicworld.com/opinions/blogs/opinion-the-geopolitical-ripples-from-the-russia-ukraine-war-articleshow.html Posted on SIS Blog with the authorisation of the Author Dr Vaishali krishna is Assistant Professor at the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

By Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli China’s leaders have never really thought much of their foreign ministry. The ouster of China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang, after only six months in that post, and the recalling of his senior Wang Yi to it, has exposed the rot in China’s higher echelons and the vulnerabilities of the second largest economy in the world. The Qin episode indicates that in China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs counts for little. The position of Foreign Minister is not decisive in China’s hierarchy. Previously, the Communist Party’s Politburo organ, the Central Small Leading Group on Foreign Policy – exercised control. Now, the Central Foreign Affairs Commission does so. But the Foreign Minister is nevertheless important at the bureaucratic level and in implementing Communist Party policy, especially in the current “new era”. Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/the-ouster-of-qin-gang-anarchy-in-china-s-heaven-1242064.html Originally published : Deccan Herald, July 30th, 2023 Posted on SIS Blog with the authorisation of the Author Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli is Dean of School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

By Prof. Bharat H. Desai On July 21, 2023, the US President Joe Biden hosted a White House meet of a group of seven leading behemoths that generate Artificial Intelligence (AI) products. It comprised: Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI. These companies made “voluntary commitments to the White House” to implement measures such as watermarking AI-generated content to help make the technology safer. "We must be clear-eyed and vigilant about the threats from emerging technologies", President Biden announced. This ground work by the US Administration came on heels of the “blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights” (October 2022) for making automated systems work for the people. It seems to be a prelude to an Executive Order and a US legislation to regulate the rapidly growing AI technology. It assumes significance especially in view of widespread usage of generative AI – ChatGPT – that uses data to create new content such as human-sounding prose. Ostensibly, since the AI technology is here to stay, it needs to be safe, secure and beneficial to the people. AI and Global Security The White House meeting (July 21) took place as a sequel to July 18, 2023 Security Council’s first special debate on AI, “Opportunities and Risks for International Peace and Security”, organized by the UK Presidency (July 2023). It’s focus was to promote and explore the UN’s effort “to improve conflict analysis and early warning, monitor ceasefires, and support mediation efforts” as well as prevent “a serious risk if misused by states and non-state actors to contribute to instability and exacerbate conflict situations, including through the spread of online disinformation and hate speech”. In his address to the UNSC, the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres observed: “I have been shocked and impressed by the newest form of AI, generative AI, which is a radical advance in its capabilities. The speed and reach of this new technology in all its forms are utterly unprecedented”. The UNSC sought to examine: how can AI be used to enhance the UN’s peace and security toolkit? It is feared that AI could be used and abused by states and non-state actors that may cause instability and exacerbate conflict situations. It can also be invoked as a powerful propaganda tool for the spread of online disinformation and hate speech. In recent times, democratic societies have become more vulnerable since the rogue actors can use AI tools as powerful weapons to launch cyber-attacks to disrupt financial markets and banking operations, national elections and high security nuclear and space command centers. Even the designers of the AI do not seem to have an idea as to where it will lead in the future. Still, it is estimated that by 2030 AI could contribute an estimated US $10 and $15 trillion to the global economy. Need for Going ‘Artificial’ In the digital and cyber age, the role of machines has been debated over the years. However, the idea of assigning the cognitive tasks to ‘humanoids’ has caught attention. Robotics as an area of scientific research has been around for some time since automation has become integral to many high-risk industries. They are employed for multiple reasons including hazardous jobs, high security apparatus, cost factor and sheer convenience. The term AI is attributed prima facie to the ‘intelligence’ of machines. The primary source of machines’ assigned attributes are humans only. It comprises various tools, techniques and usages comprising web search engines (Google; Bing), entertainment choice providers (Amazon; Netflix; YouTube), human speech recognition tools (Siri; Alexa) and generative tools (ChatGPT). There are enormous educative possibilities of AI to make the world a better place (AI for Good Global Summit; July 6, 2023). Yet they equally present grave risks to the humans and the environment. These are primarily driven by software designed by outsourcing of human intellect to an object to make it mimic exactly as the humans would do. Therein lies the catch. Machines are machines. Isn’t it inherently risky to build general AI system that claims to be “smarter than humans”? This author saw it first hand during recent stay at the Xiamen Millennium Hotel for delivering 2023 Summer Course of Xiamen Academy of International Law. In the hotel’s 22-storied structure, often the co-passenger in the lift would be a cutely designed robot that moves around like a supervisor! As I saw, the ‘humanoid’ would perform tasks with discipline but lacked crucial human feelings, voice and touch. What was hitherto predicted in science fiction and novels, has come true with AI. The human inventions designed to conquer Nature have only brought misery on planet Earth. Hence, AI driven devices must not be allowed in any way to control Nature’s precious creation – humans. We need to find risk-free and timely answers to new vistas opened up by AI for the human race in what it does on the planet Earth as well as deep seabed and outer space. Taming the Beast: Regulating AI Turning the innovation into a boon instead of bane constitutes a new ideational challenge to counter deeply entrenched mindsets. The 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (New York; March 6-17, 2023) issued an alert since women face a graver risk from ICT. The UN data shows that women are 27 times more likely to face online harassment or hate speech. In view of this grave risk, the voluntary commitments (July 21, 2023) by the seven AI corporations based on three principles (safety, security and trust) are a good beginning for taming the beast. Notwithstanding above, the possibilities of use and abuse of AI call for a robust global regulatory instrument, a watchdog and a verification regime. Several major players such as China, European Union, the UK and the USA are considering oversight and regulatory options. This year Britain will host a global summit on AI safety. In February 2021, the Indian NITI Ayog issued an approach document on Responsible AI for All. It will require to be augmented by a Parliamentary legislation and a regulatory authority. The key challenges lie in averting threats to citizens’ privacy, misinformation as a weapon of war and ensuring safety of vital national interests and societal order. The UNSC debate of July 18 showed the gravity of the threat of AI to international peace and security. Ironically, in spite of all efforts, a transparent, equitable and democratic regulation of internet has not yet materialized. Who controls internet? It remains the big question. Therefore, AI technology requires an urgent international legal instrument to tame the beast of AI by laying down precautionary and preventive mechanisms, crisis management processes, affixing accountability of the private players, state responsibility and dispute settlement mechanism. The AI automation poses a grave peril to humanity by accident or design as well as the ethical dilemma weighs heavily on making right choices for larger societal good. It is not possible to stop scientific and technological innovations. Yet, as seen in cases of human cloning, surrogacy and stem cell research, any technology that causes human misery and societal havoc will need to be discouraged or reined in. It requires higher call of duty by going beyond legalese to safeguard interests of the future generations. The Future: Oppenheimer Moment The rapid growth in AI leads us to the Oppenheimer Moment (Christopher Nolan Interview; July 16, 2023) wherein the main protagonist in the Hollywood movie is haunted by recitation of Lord Krishna’s words in the Bhagwad Gita (Chapter 11, Verse 32): “I become death; destroyer of words”. Though used as a miasma in a film’s context, in essence, Krishna’s utterances underscore: “death is merely an illusion, that we’re not born and we don’t die”. However, AI technology cannot be allowed to become a cause for pain, suffering, death or destruction of its creator. The explosion of the social media has taught that we cannot afford more deleterious changes in human existence, heightened societal chasms, human greed and violence, harmful distractions and fatal consequences for human empathy and value systems around which lives of millions revolve. We have a much-troubled world population of 8 billion who already face a crisis of planetary survival. We need global leaders to take a timely call on AI before it is too late. The UN General Assembly mandated 2024 Summit of the Future (New York; September 22-23) would provide an ideal platform for a concrete plan of action on AI regulation. Who shall bell the cat? #UNSG #UNSC #MEA #PMIndia #ILC2023 Dr. Bharat H. Desai is Professor of International Law and Chairperson of the Centre for International Legal Studies (SIS, JNU), who served as a member of the Official Indian Delegations to various multilateral negotiations (2002-2008), coordinated the knowledge initiatives for Making SIS Visible (2008-2013) and the Inter-University Consortium: JNU; Jammu; Kashmir; Sikkim (2012-2020) as well as contributes as the Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Policy and Law (IOS Press: Amsterdam)

By Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit India has made significant efforts to empower women and foster their participation in all aspects of society. Various policies and initiatives have been implemented to remove barriers and enable women to lead and contribute to the nation's development. The government's approach focuses on egalitarianism, equity, and empathy, and has resulted in increased female literacy rates, financial independence, and improved health and well-being for women. India's commitment to women's empowerment is not only important for social justice but also reflects its role as a global leader. If the considerable efforts of our Nari Shakti (women power) are added to the hard work that is required to fulfil the dreams in this Amrit Kaal (the period leading up to the centenary of India’s independence), it will require less hard work and our deadlines will also be met. Our dreams will be more vivid, vivacious and resplendent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted in his 76th Independence Day speech. This statement captures the government’s position on women empowerment, while indicating foresight about the pivotal role that the government envisions for women. Over the last decade, India has witnessed a remarkable shift towards empowering women and fostering their participation in the economy, society, and politics. Significant efforts were made to creating an environment where women could lead and spearhead the nation’s development. While women empowerment schemes were implemented by successive governments since the 1990s, the current approach is different as it seeks to remove various barriers, including mental, psychological, physical, economic, social, and political obstacles, by constructing narratives that foster an ecosystem characterised by egalitarianism, equity, and empathy. To such ends, several policies and initiatives were introduced and adapted over time to address the evolving needs of women. Around a dozen major policies currently aim to empower women in education, entrepreneurship, skill development, health, well-being, and political representation. Through targeted interventions and awareness-raising efforts, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme increased female literacy rates and reduced gender imbalances. Pursuing higher education and establishing businesses have become possible and accessible like never before. Schemes such as the Sukanya Samridhi Yojana (2015), Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (2015), and Stand-Up India Scheme (2016) allowed women to gain financial independence while also becoming a contributor to India’s economic development. The data on the growth of women-led enterprises, receding the gender gap, and increased credit to women entrepreneurs are a testament to changing realities. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was introduced to improve women’s health, safety, and overall well-being in economically weaker households. By providing free LPG connections, the scheme effectively eliminates health hazards associated with traditional cooking methods enabling them to pursue education, employment, and other opportunities. Meanwhile, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana provided working women -- who left their job due to pregnancy -- compensation for their wage loss. Besides policy measures that touched the lives of millions of women, the most significant change India witnessed was a societal renaissance that removed hidden barriers. The active government efforts aided by rising consciousness among the Indian populace resonate with the renewed push for articulating and propagating Bharatiya (Indian) narratives. About women empowerment, there has been a reach out to the hinterlands and remote tribal communities, manifested in the Prime Minister’s regular recounting stories of women in his Mann ki Baat addresses. Moreover, there is a reinvigorated focus on broadening the knowledge base in Indian knowledge systems by incorporating diverse viewpoints and recognising the historical contributions of women from different regions of India. Finally, the Indic narratives that resonate with the themes of womanhood and core feminist values have allowed connecting tradition with modernity, continuity with change, realm with region, and a theory with practice. The Indic narratives that empower the feminine are extremely relevant for Global South Alternatives. These narratives can be used as our civilisation values such as Drapaudi as the first feminist, Sita as the first single mother, Kannagi as the first citizen activist, and Madhavi as the first poet. These narratives have to be articulated extensively and researched. For these articulations, the use of science and technology are just instruments, which are ineffective without developing an ecosystem that builds an egalitarian, equitable and a non-discriminatory order that will not have a lifelong and long-term impact. India has recognised the universal significance of women’s empowerment as a global issue since it is evident that such concerns cannot be limited to national borders. As India gains increasing respect and recognition on the world stage, there is a need for the country to serve as a role model for others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demonstrated this awareness multiple times, most recently in his speech in Bali in November 2022, where he emphasised the indispensable role of women’s participation in global development. He stressed prioritising women-led development in the G20 agenda, highlighting that global goals are attainable only with women’s active involvement. This significant aspect has been prominently observed during India’s chairmanship of the G20 this year. Recognising the importance of women empowerment internationally reflects India’s commitment towards driving a positive change within its borders and globally. In contrast to the Western approach of empowering women that remains limited to providing increased opportunities, the Indian approach of women-led development places women at the forefront of development, enabling them to take charge of their progress and play a leading role. India has come a long way in a short time, but the fact that there are still events where one sees the phrase “first female” used should prompt better action and awareness. Women’s empowerment is not just a matter of social justice; it is an inherent part of India’s rich and vibrant civilisation. Although there is still progress to be made, the fact that India, as the world’s oldest and largest democracy, is led by its first tribal woman as the head of State is a powerful testament to its commitment towards women-led development. #NariShakti #G20Agenda #India #AmritKaal Originally Published : The Hindustan Times, 15th, July 2023 https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/women-empowerment-india-s-commitment-towards-women-led-development-in-the-amrit-kaal-of-independence-101689362438166.html Posted in SIS Blog with the authorization of the author. Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

By Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli By introducing soft sectors like innovation, traditional medicine, Buddhism, and youth empowerment in the SCO activities, India, during the chairmanship of the group, apparently tried to give a new touch to the international security and defence organization The New Delhi summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) concluded on July 4, 2023 virtually after 140 programmes of conferences, workshops, and dialogues of member states on different subjects. India also invited observer states such as Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia and dialogue partners like Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka and held 14 ministerial meetings. Such activities are unprecedented in nature so far under the Indian leadership of the SCO. Also, unprecedented is the elevation of the soft sectors like innovation, Buddhism, traditional medicine, youth empowerment and digital inclusion, decarbonisation in the SCO activities and agenda formation. For a multilateral organisation like the SCO, seen widely as a hard-security focused group with counter-terrorism, energy security, drugs and small arms proliferation control and others dominating its agenda, the Indian touch is significant in transforming the SCO norms. A third unprecedented formulation is the inclusion of Central Asia as the “core” of the SCO. Both the New Delhi Declaration as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech mention this. This is a significant outcome of the SCO meeting as the two traditional powers of the SCO like Russia and China are seen as influencing events to their advantage in the Eurasian region. Russia has been the traditional power holder in the region since the tsarist times. It has significant Russian diaspora, business interests, investments in strategic sectors, armaments industries and dependencies. However, the annexation of Donbas recently and Crimea before had resulted in concerns in the Eurasian region. When Almaty riots took place in early 2022, however, Kazakhstan invited Russian dominated Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) troops to stabilise the situation. China is the new upstart in Central Asia trying to implement its ancient stratagem of “fanke weizu” (reversing the role of host and the guest) – essentially to displace Russia – through aid that resulted in massive debt for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with Kazakhstan barely able to survive the panda-hug, investments in four energy pipelines and oil wells. China’s real estate grab in Almaty led to massive protests a few years ago. China has been enticing Central Asia through summit meetings since the Xian meeting in May this year, given Russian distraction in the Ukraine conflict. To steer away from the geo-political weight of Russia and China, the focus on Central Asia as the “core” is expected to enhance the region’s significance. However, Central Asia needs to be on guard as China divided the ASEAN region in order to grab South China Sea territories. A decade ago, only one country sided with China in the ASEAN grouping. Now, very few countries like Vietnam stand-up to China. Central Asia could witness such a fate if it does not balance bigger powers. A fourth significant development is that the SCO is on the path of membership expansion with Iran joining the New Delhi meeting, while Belarus will be admitted after formalities are completed. Several countries have expressed interest in joining, even though Mongolia, which has been a dialogue partner since 2001, has no interest in upgrading itself to become full-fledged member even after two decades. The SCO is said to consist of nearly one-third of the global economy at roughly $25 trillion. However, much of the gross domestic product of the SCO is traced to China, the 2nd largest economy at over $19 trillion, India the fifth largest economy at over $3 trillion and Russia at over $1.7 trillion. Intra-SCO trade is minimal by globalisation standards and predominantly composed of energy resources. Barriers to trade, investments and free market principles are yet to take roots in the region. The SCO is also said to be the largest populated multilateral organisation with over 40 percent of global population but even here India and China at over 1.4 billion each constitute the lion’s share. While China’s population is fast ageing, India's youth bulge offers opportunities for Russia and Central Asia. It is significant that youth exchanges are emphasised by India in the past year-long programmes. Another significant feature of the SCO is that it combines the largest energy producers in Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and now Iran and largest consumers like China and India. The Ukraine conflict resulted in massive energy shortages benefiting Russian exports to China and India. An energy club was established in the SCO but skewed in favour of Beijing. China currently monopolises the Central Asian energy grid with various initiatives. India’s emphasis on Chabahar Port and International North-South Transport Corridor provides an opportunity for the Central Asian region to diversify energy resources. Finally, SCO crafted itself as a hard security organisation with Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) headquarters located at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. RATS is to facilitate information sharing on terrorism and curb such activities. While SCO facilitated “peace mission” counter-terror exercises every year for the member states, it has not been able to make much progress with the epicentre of terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan, partly due to prevalence of double-standards. As a Cold War legacy, China’s position on this issue increasingly came under scrutiny. China aided the Mujahideen to counter the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. With the Soviet Union disintegration, China continued to engage the Taliban recently with a deal to provide support in lieu of countering the Uighur insurgency in Xinjiang. Despite terror attacks on Chinese at Kabul, Kandahar, Karachi, Quetta and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, China continues to bank on Pakistan and Afghanistan that promote terrorism. This has unnerved India as China even began to support Pakistan in the United Nations Security Council mandated 1267 Committee and shielding terror outfits and individuals in Pakistan. This has diluted the resolve of the SCO on the subject. Another dent into the SCO is that when it was formed in 1996 as Shanghai Five, they insisted on confidence building measures (CBMs) in border areas to reduce tensions. However, with China overthrowing mutually agreed CBMs in Galwan in Ladakh-Aksai Chin borders in June 2020, a new round of tensions began between China and India that have not subsisted so far. This has exposed double standards in the SCO practice. #SCO #India #NewDelhiDeclaration #NewTouch #InternationalSecurity #PMModi Originally Posted : India Vs Disinformation, 10th July 2023 https://www.indiavsdisinformation.com/20230710/sco-summit-indian-touch-gives-a-new-meaning-and-outlook-to-organisation Posted on SIS Blog with the authorisation of the author. Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli is Dean of School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

By Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit An enduring legacy of the Marathas and Hindavi Swaraj The 350th year since the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is an occasion of great historical significance, offering an opportunity to reflect on the enduring legacy of the Marathas and Shivaji’s vision of Hindavi Swaraj, or self-rule. This milestone invites us to delve into the rich historical fabric of the Marathas, exploring their military prowess, governance and leadership, cultural preservation, and relevance to the Indian security today. These unsung heroes and gaps of Indian history need to be filled. It is time that both the Central and State Governments encouraged the research in higher education institutions. The legacy of Shivaji continues to inspire generations of individuals and governments. As such, to commemorate this special anniversary, we should look back at the transformative period of his rule that shaped the course of Indian history and continues to resonate today without attenuating the profound significance it holds. MAKING HARD CHOICES The rise of the Marathas under the leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj represented a seismic shift in Indian history. Their emergence as a formidable force challenged the hegemony of the Mughal Empire, ultimately leading to the establishment of Hindavi Swaraj. Hindavi Swaraj was a clarion call for self rule against the Mughal and other invaders. The valour, guerilla tactics, military strategy and construction of forts both inland and on the coast as part of their unique naval strategy in the Western Indian Ocean. The Marathas’ military campaigns showcased their exceptional strategic insight and innovative tactics, resulting in significant victories against more powerful adversaries. They were a bulwark against the Islamic invasions down South and saved the South from the plunder of temples, genocide and mass forced conversions. Yet, what exemplifies Shivaji most is his proclivity to make hard choices as a tactician on the battlefield, as a ruler, and as an individual. Instead of choosing a life of comfort serving the feudal lords like many of his contemporaries, Shivaji took the road less travelled as he sought to fight for freedom. One of his ingenuities was to adopt a warfare approach characterized by guerrilla tactics, swift mobility, and the effective use of terrain. He pioneered the concept of guerrilla warfare, using hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, and surprise attacks to weaken the powerful Mughal forces. Later, this was reflected in his successors’ campaigns that adapted to the ever-changing battlefield conditions to challenge the established order. Furthermore, the Marathas under Shivaji took to the seas even while it was easier to raise armies. Indeed, the Marathas turned out to be skilled naval commanders known for their naval expeditions and for establishing a strong maritime presence along the Konkan and Malabar coasts. Their navy played a pivotal role in securing coastal regions, protecting trade routes, and challenging the dominance of European powers in the Indian Ocean. The Maratha Empire’s territorial expansion and the subsequent weakening of the Mughal Empire laid the foundation for a significant power shift in India. Their rise opened up new avenues for regional powers, redefining the political landscape and heralding a new era of indigenous self-rule. LESSONS FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE Many discussions on Shivaji’s legacy deal with his military conquests, expeditions, and defiance of the Mughal rule. However, Shivaji’s vision of efficient governance, justice, and welfare was central to the Maratha legacy. He implemented a series of administrative reforms that laid the foundation for a well-rounded administration. The “Ashta Pradhan,” or the Council of Eight Ministers, exemplified Shivaji’s emphasis on diverse perspectives and expertise in governance. Each minister represented a specific facet of governance, such as finance, defence, foreign affairs, and intelligence. This system ensured a comprehensive and inclusive approach to decision-making, facilitating effective governance and fostering a sense of accountability. Shivaji’s administration prioritized its subjects’ welfare, implementing policies promoting social justice and economic prosperity. He emphasised the importance of local self-governance and empowered regional leaders to manage their territories autonomously. This approach decentralized power and effectively addressed local concerns and needs. Furthermore, Shivaji’s administration emphasised meritocracy, where individuals were appointed based on their skills and abilities rather than their social status or birth. Such ideas may appear standard in today’s day and age, but back then, such views were radical. A direct outcome of such merit-based appointments was that Shivaji’s administration represented one of the most inclusive administrations in medieval history. The Marathas’ administrative reforms also extended to revenue administration, where they introduced a systematic land revenue system that emphasised equitable taxation. This system played a crucial role in stimulating agricultural production and economic growth, benefiting the state and its subjects. The significance of such tax reforms is hard to grapple in today’s understanding. To put it in context, the Marathas under Shivaji implemented a revenue system rooted in equitable taxation principle, while the overwhelming population in mainland India at the time suffered from discriminatory and predatory taxes like Jiziya (tax collected from non-Muslims) and bhutfarosi (tax collected from idol worshippers). The Marathas’ focus on governance and welfare continues to hold valuable lessons about an inclusive and equitable societal structure that works for all, not for the few. PRESERVING CULTURE AND CELEBRATING DIVERSITY Beyond military and administrative achievements, the Marathas were passionate patrons and preservers of cultural heritage. Shivaji’s reign witnessed a flourishing of arts, literature, and architecture, creating a rich cultural and intellectual milieu. The Marathas’ patronage extended to poets, scholars, and artists who contributed significantly to Marathi literature, music, dance, and artistic traditions. Their support for regional languages and indigenous cultural expressions fostered a sense of pride and unity among diverse communities. This resulted in fostering Indian culture that stood distinct from outside rulers from Central Asia. The Marathas celebrated diversity, transcending divisions based on religion or caste. Shivaji promoted a pluralistic ethos that emphasised unity in the face of adversity. He recognised the importance of cultural identity and took significant steps to revive and promote Marathi culture, language, and traditions. Shivaji’s patronage of Sanskrit and Marathi literature and the establishment of educational institutions nurtured a vibrant intellectual and cultural atmosphere in his kingdom. Interestingly, Shivaji changed the court language from Persian (traditionally the courtly language in the country) to Marathi. This change was accompanied by an emphasis on Hindu political and courtly customs and traditions, as evidenced by his official seal, which was in Sanskrit. Shivaji’s love and admiration for Sanskrit were not limited to this. He commissioned a lexicon to replace Persian and Arabic words with their equivalents in Sanskrit. Shivaji sought to promote the use of Marathi and Sanskrit to foster a cultural and linguistic identity aligned with the Hindu heritage in his kingdom. A champion of social emancipation and the architect of the Indian Constitution, Bhimrao Ambedkar was also inspired by Shivaji. The landmark legislation CK Bole Act that opened public spaces for Scheduled Communities and the subsequent Mahad Satyagraha (1927) underscores the importance of Shivaji as a social unifier in India that employed slogans such as “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai!” Shivaji’s ideals and approach to cultural preservation serve as a model for embracing diversity and nurturing a collective identity that transcends societal divisions. LEGACY OF SWARAJYA One of the earliest nationalists of the freedom movement in India, Dadabhai Naoroji, is often attributed to bringing the word swaraj into the lexicon of freedom struggle. Later, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhara Tilak popularized the term, echoing Shivaji’s vision of self-rule. However, the term was first coined by Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1646 CE (to declare war against the Adil Shahi to win self-rule), making this one of the most invaluable contributors of Shivaji to the Indian Independence struggle. Furthermore, Shivaji and his stories profoundly impacted Indian freedom fighters, thinkers, writers, poets, and the larger Indian consciousness. For instance, Shivaji’s ideals caused Tilak to start the Shivaji Utsav, which helped invigorate India’s democratic processes and fostered a sense of national pride. The term Hindavi Swarajya (self-rule of Hindus) has helped shape contemporary India in ways that many Indians remain oblivious to. This concept, popularized by the visionary leader Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, embodies a spiritual and inclusive vision beyond political independence. It represents the essence of a nation-state that cherishes its cultural heritage, upholds egalitarian values, and embraces diversity. Under the auspices of the concept, Shivaji aimed to break the barriers of social hierarchy, social stagnation, and social exclusion and lay down the foundation for a more equitable society. As such, the concept has been crucial in forming a national consciousness and even nation-building itself. Such understanding of Shivaji’s Hindavi Swarajya was best exemplified by his rule and governance, where ideas of social inclusion and mobility were so advanced that they may humble many so-called modern societies of today. The principles and values espoused by the Marathas and Hindavi Swaraj remain relevant in addressing modern-day challenges. In a rapidly changing world, there is a need for indigenous solutions; national pride and participatory governance are valuable in navigating contemporary challenges. As such, Shivaji’s commitment to self-determination, resistance against oppressive rule, and the promotion of inclusive and decentralized governance provide insights for individuals, societies, and governments grappling with questions of autonomy, identity, and development. The supreme sacrifice of Sambhaji Maharaj, who was brutally tortured and killed in a gruesome manner by Aurangazeb for refusing to convert under duress and standing up for Hindavi Swaraj need to be told in filling the gaps of history. One fashionably talks of Muslim genocide when there is none, but none speaks of the facts of Hindu genocide throughout the medieval period. Hindu genocide took place in the Kashmir valley as late as 1990. It is these strategic silences that need to be corrected and the facts be made public. One cannot normalise rape, loot, plunder and genocide. Let us remove the ghosts that have been constructed. In commemorating the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation, the most profound tribute lies in upholding and cherishing the enduring influence of the Marathas and Hindavi Swaraj on India and its people. Shivaji’s concept of swarajya reverberates as an indomitable force within India’s historical tapestry. Its multifaceted essence encompasses making hard choices to challenge the pressures of foreign invading powers, their fanatical tactics and genocide of local population, effective governance, preserving the cultural heritage, promoting diversity, and, most importantly, recognising the importance of self-rule. However, one must exercise caution to prevent these remarkable accomplishments and legacies from being confined to a mere annual commemoration or fleeting social media homage. Instead, they should be imbibed and internalized, for there exists no finer way to honour Shivaji’s legacy than to assimilate his virtuous acts and values through making it a part of our school and University curriculum as well as research. Every state needs to have a factual history and one where there is genuine pride. History cannot exist on shaky and fabricated foundations. The practice of defeated societies being excluded and marginalised, needs to be contested. Hence Marathas who challenged the Mughals were marginalised. History is weaponised with glaring biases such as Aurangazeb was generous and secular, whereas Marathas were communal for they fought for Hindavi Swaraj. This is based on interpretation rather than fact. We are sacrificing this at the altar of political calculations. One should not erase large chunks of history that erase the Bharatiya narratives. We need a plurality of voices and truth cannot be blamed. NEP 2020 is a historic document and framework where these glaring gaps in history need to be told loud and clear, where we celebrate our spirit of resilience and courage like that of the Marathas. #ChhatrapatiShivaji #Swaraj Originally Published : The SundayGuardian, 9th, July 2023 https://sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/350th-year-of-chhatrapati-shivajis-coronation Posted in SIS Blog with the authorization of the author. Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

By Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli The SCO represents 40 per cent of the world’s population and a third of its GDP, albeit due to China and India India seemed to be charting a new bottom-up, democratic approach in the just-concluded Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit meeting under its presidency. The challenges are formidable in the highly authoritarian regimes of the region, but the approach is subtle, long-term, and comprehensive. The July 4 meeting of the heads of the SCO came at the end of a year-long outreach to all member-states, observers and dialogue partners during which India organised a massive programme of 140 diverse activities across the country involving these countries, specifically their youth. As the SCO is expanding – Iran became a member, Belarus may be next – India has been paying much attention since it became a full member six years ago. The SCO represents 40 per cent of the world’s population and a third of its GDP, albeit due to China and India. One significant approach India adopted at this meeting was to strongly put forth its strengths and interests. In contrast to the top-down approach among many authoritarian governments, India advocated enhancing “contact and engagement among people” -- reflected in the programmes conducted across the country. New Delhi also offered to share India’s start-up experience. With the Stalinist planning model discredited and market economy spreading, India’s suggestions on start-ups, innovation and digital inclusion provide a transformative moment for the SCO states. India also advocated youth empowerment, traditional medical practices, and shared Buddhist heritage. There are also proposals for cooperation in emerging fuels, decarbonisation, and digital public infrastructure. These are sure to create interest in the Central Asian states whose aspirations India declared to be its “primary focus”. The New Delhi declaration announced Central Asia as the “the core of SCO”, perhaps replicating its “ASEAN centrality” approach in the Indo-Pacific in this Eurasian grouping. However, India needs to find its feet and resurrect the age-old ties it had with the region to overcome the hard power of the two dominant powers in the SCO, Russia and China. This is easier said than done for several reasons. Firstly, in a surprise move, India announced that the 23rd SCO summit would be held in the virtual format. That decision led to speculation mainly due to the actions of China and Pakistan. Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s intemperate remarks and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s (and Defence Minister Li Shangfu’s) denial of any border crisis with India created an impression of a Sino-Pak cabal in the SCO. China’s summit meeting with the Central Asian republics at Xian in May this year, the new trilateral of China-Russia-Iran and other signals from Beijing indicated strongly moves to balance against India. A virtual meeting avoided any embarrassment for New Delhi due to all this. Secondly, given India’s national security priority of countering cross-border terrorism, India found the Sino-Pak axis on the issue intriguing. India’s call to avoid double standards in addressing counter- terrorism efforts appear to be falling on deaf ears as China supports Pakistan in the UNSC 1267 committee proceedings as well as shielding Pakistan-based terror outfits. While India participated in Russia-led counter-terror exercises and found useful tactical and operational principles, given the Sino-Pak axis, counter-terrorism issues have been diluted in the SCO to India’s disadvantage. Also, regional security in the SCO has worsened with the Ukraine war, imposing costs on India and the Global South in terms of food, fuel and fertiliser shortages and price rise. The SCO had taken up an energy club effort, given the preponderance of energy producers and consumers. However, so far, much of the energy resources have been garnered by China as Pakistan has blocked initiatives to transport energy resources from Central Asia to India. Recently, India found an opportunity after Chabahar Port was built. India is also backing the International North-South Transport Corridor. Russia has also supplied substantial energy resources to India in the last two years. Thirdly, India remains the lone SCO member to not have endorsed, much less joined, China’s Belt and Road Initiative. India reiterated its position that “it is essential to uphold the basic principles of the SCO charter, particularly respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the member-states”, pointing at the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that passes through Pak-Occupied Kashmir. India also stated that “it is our shared responsibility to understand each other’s needs and sensitivities.” As the host of the SCO, India thus had to steer through difficult and turbulent terrain, balance competing claims, and still protect its interests and aspirations. A creative “soft” approach of reaching out to the people of the Eurasian region amongst the “hard” regimes appeared to be the best path, and New Delhi took it. #SCO #India #CentralAsia #Eurasia #Terrorism #Energy #EnergyTwitter #Climate #Covid Originally Published : The Deccan Herald, 9th July 2023 https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/new-delhi-is-carving-out-a-lonely-furrow-in-sco-1235239.html Posted in SIS Blog with the authorization of the author. Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli is Dean of School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

By Dr. Sakti Prasad Srichandan The focus of this NATO framework is on containing China, and joining it has the potential to undermine India’s autonomy It was during a virtual press briefing in March 2023 on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) focus on South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region that the United States Permanent Representative to NATO, Julianne Smith, was quoted as saying that “the NATO alliance is open to more engagement, should India seek that”. Reflecting the same sentiment, the U.S. House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), in May 2023, recommended strengthening the ‘NATO-Plus’ framework by including India in the grouping. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had rejected this idea by saying that “NATO template does not apply to India”. Yet on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S., in June, Senate India Caucus Co-Chair Mark Warner shared his plans to table a bill to bring India into the NATO Plus fold. NATO and NATO Plus NATO is a transatlantic military alliance of 31 countries, with the majority of members from Europe. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, many thought that NATO would lose its relevance. On the contrary, NATO has not only survived but also expanded, with Finland joining as its 31st member (April 2023), and Sweden waiting in the wings. NATO appears to be getting the much-needed ground for survival, thanks to Russia’s tirade against it and the invasion of Ukraine. With NATO swelling its expanse, some analysts even see the onset of Cold War 2.0. “NATO plus” refers to a security arrangement of NATO and the five treaty allies of the U.S. — Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea as members — to enhance “global defence cooperation” and win the “strategic competition with the Chinese Communist Party”. Interestingly, the term ‘NATO Plus’ is not an officially recognised or established concept within NATO itself, but has been used in discussions and debates regarding the potential expansion of the alliance. The inclusion of these countries as members would require a complex process of negotiation and assessment of their compatibility with NATO’s principles, obligations, and defence commitments. While NATO’s earlier target was the Soviet Union and now Russia, the focus of NATO Plus is clearly on containing China. Therefore, considering its disputes with China, India remains a missing link in the framework. In light of increasing regional security challenges, India joining the NATO Plus framework could provide it with a security umbrella, with protection and deterrence against potential threats. India could also gain access to advanced military technologies, intelligence-sharing platforms, and inter-operability with other member-states. This could potentially strengthen India’s defence capabilities and modernisation efforts. But this bait needs to be assessed in the larger context of India’s strategic autonomy. First, getting into any NATO framework will annoy Russia and China. Apart from the robust strategic partnership, Russia has been useful to India in dealing with regional security challenges and, importantly, moderating the stance of China. Even though Russia is getting over-dependent on China, post the war in Ukraine, Moscow remains a valuable partner for India. Should it join, in one stroke, India’s solidified strategic partnership with Russia will crumble. Balancing these relationships and managing potential geopolitical consequences would be a significant challenge for India. Second, while aligning with a U.S.-led alliance system may be tempting due to the threats posed by China, it could ultimately prove counterproductive and detrimental. Having a military framework will limit India’s freedom of action and prevent it from pursuing an independent policy towards China. Moreover, at a time when India has its own bilateral issues with China and a strategy for the Indo-Pacific, hopping into the Taiwan strategy of the U.S. under NATO Plus will complicate India’s security, with the possibility of Chinese justification for further military build-up along the India-China border and frequent intrusion. Third, India has traditionally maintained a policy of strategic autonomy, allowing it to engage with various nations and blocs based on its own interests. Joining a NATO framework would require India to align its defence and security policies with the objectives and strategies of the alliance, thereby potentially undermining India’s autonomy. While the non-aligned policy will get a quick death, it could strain relationships with countries, especially neighbours and regional organisations that value India’s independent stance, and could also limit its flexibility in engaging with other regional powers. India’s priorities India’s priorities lie in addressing its own regional dynamics that includes a unique set of security challenges such as border disputes, terrorism, and regional conflicts. While NATO has certain competencies to deal with such issues, its larger geopolitical agenda starting from Eurasia to the Indo-Pacific may divert resources and attention away from these pressing issues and, therefore, will not be of much help to India. For the time being, India’s posturing through the Quad (India, Japan, Australia and the U.S.; the Asian NATO as per China) looks more promising than the NATO Plus bait, though China remains an elephant in the room during its summits. #NATOPlus #India #Autonomy Originally published : The Hindu, July 4th, 2023 https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/india-should-refuse-americas-nato-plus-bait/article67038238.ece Posted in SIS Blog with the authorization of the author Dr. Sakti Prasad Srichandan is Assistant Professor, Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

By Prof. Gulshan Sachdeva If New Delhi is uncomfortable in aligning its activities with a China-dominated grouping, it must drastically raise its bilateral engagements in Central Asia The recently-concluded Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) summit under the Indian presidency clearly shows that New Delhi is not quite sure what priority this organisation deserves. India would not like to be out of the SCO activities as it has serious security, economic, and energy interests in the Eurasian region. Now with Iran joining as a full member, the importance of the SCO for India has further increased. However, India is not very comfortable with Beijing’s influence over SCO activities and the organisation’s generally anti-United States attitude. The timing of the Indian chairmanship of the SCO was not very conducive. The policy-makers in Delhi have been too busy with the G20 presidency. To a large extent G20 activities overshadowed SCO events. Moreover, relations with two important members of the organisation, viz China and Pakistan, have been at an all-time low. While converting the two-day summit into a two-hour online affair, New Delhi lost a good opportunity to showcase and assert its independent foreign policy orientation. Even if India was able to organise more than 130 SCO meetings and events, the real show was supposed to be the summit. With a tense geopolitical environment, the whole world would have glued to the event in New Delhi in which the leading Eurasian powers including Russia, China, Iran, and India would have discussed their designs for the region. Since the core of the SCO is Central Asia, this would have also provided a good opportunity to welcome all Central Asian leaders together. Some of the bilateral meetings could also have generated a lot of interest. It was at the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Samarkand summit in 2022 where Modi made the famous ‘not an era of war’ statement. From the beginning, India was in a dilemma concerning its engagement with the SCO. So just being an observer in the SCO seemed fine. But the US’ decision to start withdrawing from Afghanistan in 2014 changed the equation. The SCO had already formed a Contact Group with Afghanistan. The Afghan President was being invited to attend SCO summits. Moreover, the US’ New Silk Road Strategy of linking Central and South Asia via Afghanistan was going nowhere. Within the context of increasing uncertainty in Afghanistan and a possibility that the SCO may play some significant role in the future of Afghanistan, India applied for its membership in 2014 and became a full member in 2017. Since then, however, various developments have created new dilemmas for India. Downturn in ties with both China and Pakistan, the US exit from Afghanistan, and the return of Taliban in Kabul have coincided with India’s serious involvement in various Indo-Pacific initiatives with the US. In the meanwhile, the West is trying to isolate Russia, and Iran continues to be under various sanctions. At the summit, China’s President Xi Jinping outlined his all major projects viz the Global Security Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He asserted that China is willing to co-operate on all these projects with the SCO members. Both Russia and China want to deepen linkages between the Chinese-led BRI and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union. To reduce their dependence on both Russia and China, Central Asians want India to play a bigger role in the region. This also fits well within their multi vector foreign policies. Despite intentions and rhetoric, however, New Delhi remains a marginal player in Central Asia. So, at least the SCO is good forum where Central and South Asians meet. However, at a time when India-US ties have become very close and its relations with China have deteriorated, India cannot be an enthusiastic player in a China dominated club. The Delhi declaration shows that India was the only country which did not support the BRI and did not sign the SCOs Economic Development Strategy 2030. Due to difficult India-Pakistan relations and an unstable Afghanistan, Iran has been a key factor in India’s connectivity designs in Eurasia. Being SCO members, both Russia and Iran will have no problem in linking their connectivity strategies with the SCO or the BRI. In fact, the International North-South Transport Corridor, in which India is a partner along with Russia and Iran, was listed as a BRI project at its last forum. So, to be relevant in Central Asia, either India must align its activities along with the SCO or drastically raise its bilateral engagements in the region. #SCO #CentralAsia #India #GreatPowerRivalry Originally Published : Deccan Herald, on 6th July, 2023 https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/sco-china-india-central-asia-sco-summit-dilemma-1234417.html Posted in SIS Blog with the authorisation of the Author. Prof. Dr. Gulshan Sachdeva is Professor, Centre for European Studies and Coordinator, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

By Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli China has been watching Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States this week. Read the full article here: https://www.thebillionpress.org/articles/2023/07/02/modi-us-and-why-china-rankled Originally Published : The Billion Press, 2nd July 2023 Posted in SIS Blog with the authorization of the author. Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli is Dean of School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

By Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit Academia must prioritize disseminating accurate and nuanced information, countering the spread of misinformation prevalent in woke culture. The entire visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States is a spectacular success despite attempt by the wokes to puncture it. The Wall Street Journal reporter asking question to PM Modi never questioned the genocide of minorities in Pakistan but is worried about India. Their false cry and misinformation being spread by the woke media and a former President is in bad taste, ill-timed and very irresponsible. When the US system arrests a former President it is democracy, but when the Indian judiciary legally disqualifies a sitting MP it is interpreted as democracy and secularism is in danger. What double standards in the application of principles of democracy and secularism. This goes with the dictum that for the wokes the application of principles is based on their ideology are for someone and some purpose and the personal is political. To add to it they have invented the so called civil society NGOs that set their agenda, like Open Society. In India, a country renowned for its diverse landscape and rich tradition of open dialogue, the ascent of woke culture poses a deep concern, casting a shadow over the once-vibrant spaces of debate and discussion. Masked under the banner of promoting social justice and inclusivity, this trend fosters an atmosphere of hostility and exclusion towards differing viewpoints, ironic as it may seem. As woke culture reshapes the discourse in India, it compels us to reflect upon the future of intellectual freedom and the preservation of diverse thought. But what exactly is this pervasive phenomenon known as “woke culture” or “wokeism” that has permeated intellectual spheres locally and globally? The term “wokes” refers to individuals hyper-aware of social justice issues, advocating for change predominantly through online activism. However, it is essential to note that wokes do not necessarily represent the majority opinion or the sentiments of the masses. Instead, they often represent a more minor, vocal faction with a particular agenda. Their amplified voices, aligned with like-minded individuals and groups, create an illusion that their views, values, and moral compass hold absolute truth. Within the realm of woke culture, characterized by its creators and followers known as “wokes,” an exceptional emphasis is placed on morality and righteousness. This heightened focus on morality brings to mind the insights of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who discussed the concept of herd mentality and its influence on moral judgments. Nietzsche astutely observed that the morality associated with herd mentality asserts, “I am morality itself, and nothing else is morality!” This observation resonates when considering the wokes’ tendency to invoke their own version of morality, vehemently asserting that their moral framework is the sole embodiment of what is right, dismissing alternative perspectives. Wokeism is marked by an unconditional and one-size-fits-all approach to thinking, often leading to selective uproar and oversimplification of complex ideas or situations. This mindset disregards the need for context and thorough examination, which can spread misinformation and contribute to societal polarization. Instead of genuinely addressing the intricacies of a specific issue, the emphasis often lies on “virtue signaling” or projecting an image of moral righteousness. This focus on appearances rather than the problem at hand hinders meaningful progress and constructive dialogue. In such a situation, it becomes essential to move beyond superficial gestures and prioritize nuanced understanding and thoughtful analysis to foster a more informed and inclusive society. In addition, woke culture significantly emphasizes group identities, elevating social identity above individual experiences and beliefs. This prioritization of group identities perpetuates the growth of tribalism and intolerance. A divisive mindset takes hold by categorizing individuals solely based on their social identity, eclipsing the acknowledgment of diverse personal experiences and viewpoints. This narrowing of focus creates an environment where intolerance towards differing perspectives becomes increasingly pervasive. As a result, the potential for meaningful dialogue and understanding diminishes, hindering the progress toward a more inclusive and harmonious society. A significant consequence of the rising woke culture is the stifling of free speech and receding space for intellectual space. Despite the claims of equality and diversity, wokeism shuns the opposing viewpoints as unacceptable or offensive. This is frequently done through a “cancelling” approach to opposing views and ideas. Individuals or their opinions that are not in line with the woke culture are deemed problematic and individuals find themselves ostracized or silenced, leading to a lack of open dialogue and exchange of ideas. Applying wokeism to the Indian context, for instance, using the Critical Race Theory in discussions on casteism, illustrates a poor understanding of Indian society. These concepts have been constructed within a colonial framework and weaponized to serve hegemonic narratives, often leading to more problems than solutions. The widespread application of wokeism in these complex contexts highlights the dangers of unconditional and contextually detached thinking. It exposes how individuals with bitter sentiments exploit resentment to perpetuate a harmful narrative. It is crucial to recognize that these developments undermine both individual and societal values in an endless pursuit of radical liberal ideas. The many notions that woke culture promotes indeed have merit in the sense that individuals, groups, and society have genuine grievances. Such concerns and grievances should never be negated or mellowed. However, the approach promoted by woke culture is counterproductive. Long-standing problems such as casteism and gender inequality require thoughtful and comprehensive solutions rather than quick-fix solutions. The misinformed smear campaigns against those who do not conform with woke culture’s thinking would neither solve any problems nor would it serve as a substitute for genuine discussions on critical issues, such as gender inequality. Relying on selective content and incomplete information only exacerbates grievances and widens existing societal divides. Ages before the concepts of free speech and public debate emerged in the West, India had a rich tradition of dialogue and discussion with institutions such as sabhas and samitis that provided platforms for debates and discussions encompassing not only political matters but also societal issues and individual differences. India’s reputation for diversity has garnered global recognition and admiration. However, the alarming rise of mob mentality observed on platforms like Twitter and other social media platforms demonstrates how this very diversity can become a vulnerability, leading to profound harm inflicted upon society and its institutions. Repairing these divisions often requires extensive time, spanning decades or even centuries. However, creating or exacerbating differences can occur swiftly, as exemplified by the current political climate to which woke culture invariably contributes. The encroachment of woke culture into academia and media has raised concerns over India’s diminishing space for diverse viewpoints and intellectual exchange. Operating under the guise of championing the marginalized and oppressed, woke culture promotes a predominantly left-leaning narrative that leaves little room for alternative perspectives. Universities, which should ideally foster robust ideological debates, often become battlegrounds for intense ideological contestation, with the left maintaining a significant presence. Through buzzwords like “cultural appropriation”, “microaggression”, and the demand for “safe spaces”, woke culture seeks to validate its moral high ground. However, in practice, it marginalizes dissenting voices and stifles meaningful engagement. While the specific subjects and themes may vary over time, the overarching outcome remains unchanged. This reality is apparent in the daily trending hashtags on platforms like Twitter, where rampant bullying and harassment undermine the very social and intellectual space the platform was intended to provide. Within academia and media, the prevalence of woke culture has given rise to echo chambers, where individuals primarily seek out and interact with viewpoints that align with their beliefs. This phenomenon has oversimplified complex issues and a noticeable absence of meaningful engagement with opposing perspectives. Academic freedom is a cornerstone of higher education, allowing scholars to pursue knowledge and ideas without fear of censorship or retaliation. The rise of wokeness (and cancel culture) undermines this freedom. Cancel culture fosters an environment of ideological conformity, something George Orwell pointed out in his novel, 1984, where specific viewpoints or perspectives are labelled unacceptable and subsequently silenced. The rise of woke culture has necessitated universities to assume a crucial role in restoring balance to public debate. As purveyors of knowledge and intellectual rigor, universities hold the responsibility to counteract the excesses of woke culture by upholding the principles of open dialogue, critical thinking, and evidence-based reasoning. Universities must actively engage in rigorous research, analysis, and scholarly inquiry, counterbalancing the dogmatic tendencies of woke culture. By promoting diverse perspectives and fostering an environment of respectful discourse, universities can encourage the exploration of multiple viewpoints and challenge the one-sided narratives often perpetuated by woke culture. Furthermore, academia must prioritize disseminating accurate and nuanced information, countering the spread of misinformation prevalent in woke culture. This should also follow providing the other side space to talk about their viewpoints and ideas. By encouraging evidence-based reasoning and critical analysis, universities should be the eponymous lighthouse in the storm of cancel culture and woke ideology to equip individuals with the tools to critically evaluate ideas, navigate complex issues, and discern fact from fiction. They are also responsible for cultivating intellectual humility, emphasizing that knowledge is an ongoing process and that one’s beliefs should remain open to scrutiny and revision. This approach counters the inherent rigidity and self-assuredness often associated with woke culture, encouraging individuals to self-reflect and consider alternative perspectives. In an era characterized by the unchecked growth of the culture of wokeness and the pervasive climate of political correctness, public space, particularly the intellectual sphere, has become heavily polluted. The prevailing narrative has devolved into a binary framework where opposing viewpoints are voiceless. In this critical juncture, universities and media must rise as beacons of light amidst polarization, misinformation and misguided opinions. They must reclaim their role as centres of critical debate, open dialogue, and substantive discussions on contentious issues sorely absent from the broader public discourse. #WokeCulture #HerdMentality #Democracy Originally Published : The SundayGuardian, 2nd, July 2023 https://sundayguardianlive.com/opinion/woke-chokehold-on-debate-discussion-is-growing Posted in SIS Blog with the authorization of the author. Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit is Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

By Prof. Gulshan Sachdeva If pushed aggressively, African Union’s G20 membership could become one of the significant achievements of the Indian presidency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to G20 leaders that the African Union may be given a membership in the grouping at the summit in September. If this happens, this could be an important achievement for India’s G20 presidency. Now, 96 per cent of the African population is out of the G20. With just one addition, 54 more African countries could be represented in the G21. Currently, South Africa is the only G20 member from the continent. While speaking at the UN General Assembly in September, Macky Sall, the Senegalese President and Chairperson of the African Union, advocated a seat for the union within the G20 “so that Africa can, at last, be represented where decisions are taken that affect 1.4 billion Africans." Since then a new momentum has been built to push this initiative. If the European Union (EU) can represent 27 members in the G20, the African Union could also represent its 55 members. Together these countries constitute the eighth largest economy in the world. Moreover, crucial issues concerning Climate Change, debt restructuring, urbanisation, migration, pandemics, and security cannot be meaningfully discussed without bringing Africa to the table. Africa with its recent growth history, young population, and plenty of success stories in agriculture, telecommunications, consumer markets, banking, etc. is much more confident today than any time in the recent past. Many of the fastest growing economies of the world are in Africa. The resurgent Africa has expressed its ambition through Agenda 2063 and its 15 flagship projects. When there are trends towards protectionism in the world, Africa has taken a bold step in the opposite direction by launching the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). As almost every country in the continent is a member, this is the largest free trade area in the world by number of countries. Realising the importance of Africa for the global economy, the union is occasionally invited to G20 summits. Under the Chinese presidency in 2016, the G20 started supporting African industrialisation. To improve private investment in Africa, a compact with Africa was created under the German presidency in 2017. Similarly, the Italian presidency in 2021 hosted the Africa Advisory Group. Recently, a group of passive, consultative, or at best diminutive role”. This might change if an additional seat is provided to the union. The summary of deliberations of the Voices of Global South Summit held earlier this year did not mention anything about the African Union’s membership aspiration. The Chair’s summary of G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in March only indicated that ministers were “supportive of further deepening cooperation between the G20 and regional partners, including African partners”. However, at the press conference after the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted that "we have agreed that the African Union will henceforth be a full member of the G20, just as the European Union has been participating in this work for several years." At the US-African leaders summit in December 2022, US President Joe Biden announced that he would support the African Union joining as a full member of the G20. Similarly, at the co-ordination meeting with the African Union in July 2022, European Council President Charles Michel mentioned that the EU would support African Union’s G20 membership. French President Emmanuel Macron insisted at the last G20 summit in Bali that the African Union should have a seat at the G20 table. In the last few months, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada have all indicated that they would support the African Union’s G20 membership bid. Apart from the Western powers, Brazil, China, Indonesia, and Russia have also supported the African Union’s G20 membership. Now India as a presidency country has also put its weight behind the African Union’s G20 membership. If New Delhi really wants to see the African Union as a G20 member by September, the next few weeks are going to be crucial. Even if many members have indicated their support, a high-level outreach to all G20 members is crucial. Modi’s visits to the United States and France can be used to build a broader consensus on the issue. Some of the countries might have shown support for political correctness, it needs to be firmed up. Others who have not made any commitment so far might have reservations. There could be arguments of the G20 losing its effectiveness with an expansion. Since India has now taken this initiative, it needs to put its full diplomatic weight behind the move. #G20 #AU #IndiaPresidency #VoicesGlobalSouth #AfricanUnion Originally Published : Deccan Herald, on 21st June, 2023 https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/african-union-india-g20-european-union-indiag20-1229788.html Posted in SIS Blog with the authorisation of the Author. Prof. Dr. Gulshan Sachdeva is Professor, Centre for European Studies and Coordinator, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.