External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today found a Ramayana reference to his job – and an epic diplomat. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with DailyExpertNews Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Pugalia, Mr Jaishankar talked about finding examples in the Indian context for things rather than borrowing from the West.
In this context, he said that even his work was featured in the great epic Ramayan.
“Hanuman was a great diplomat. A true diplomat as he was sent as an envoy to Lanka,” he told DailyExpertNews.
“Hanuman also had an intelligence mission. He had to inquire about Sita. And he was also an activist diplomat as he caused them great losses on his way out,” Jaishankar said, referring to the burning of Lanka, the capital. of the demon king Ravan, who had kidnapped SIta.
He also spoke about the diplomatic tactics and mind games that Hanuman had used in Ravan's audience hall.
“He managed to sit on a higher seat than the king and his ministers, which put them at a psychological disadvantage,” Mr Jaishankar said, pointing out that much of it is relevant even today.