64+ Powerful Dr. S Jaishankar Quotes That Will Make You Feel Dazzled

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Dr. S Jaishankar is always in the news for his tough responses on geopolitical issues. He is a true visionary and with his brave attitude, has never failed to put forward the bold and fearless side of New India to the world. He has portrayed that India's rise is not a threat to anyone. It is an opportunity for all. It is a source of stability, not instability.

It was in the year 2015 when he learned of his appointment as India's foreign secretary, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had two days left before his retirement.

Four years later, he made political history by becoming the first foreign secretary to hold the position of India's External Affairs Minister and take on a political role without having ever participated in active politics. He was later elected from the state of Gujarat after he was appointed External Affairs Minister.

Politician and diplomat Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was born in India on January 9, 1955. S. Jaishankar graduated in Chemistry from St. Stephen's College at the University of Delhi after completing his education at The Air Force School in Subroto Park, New Delhi. He holds an M. Phil. and an MA in political science. He served as India's ambassador to the US, China, and the Czech Republic before entering Indian politics. He held several important positions, including the High Commissioner to Singapore (2007–09). Additionally, Jaishankar was a key player in the negotiations for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.

Here are 64 quotes from Dr. S Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister that will make you feel dazzled by his fearless attitude.

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"You are asking the wrong minister when you say how long we will do this because it is the Ministers of Pakistan who will tell you how long Pakistan intends to practice terrorism."
"The world is not stupid, the world is not forgetful and the world does increasingly call out countries, organizations, and people who indulge in terrorism, and by taking that debate elsewhere you are not going to hide it." - These two are the famous quote he gave in response to a question by a Pakistani Journalist.
"One country would do terrorism but if the other country responds, it is called the danger of war." When the world was worried that there was a possibility of a Third World War due to the stance adopted by India on its borders.
"Everybody knows where and against whom it is used. You're not fooling anybody by saying these things. Countries finally make their choices based on their own interests." Jaishankar responded to the media when the US decided to supply F-16s to Pakistan.
"When oil prices go up, I think it's natural for countries to go out in the market and look for what are good deals for their people." Dr. S Jaishankar said this while defending the decision of India to buy Russian oil.
"The question of justifying what the world regards as unacceptable should never arise. That applies to state sponsorship of cross-border terrorism, nor can hosting Osama Bin Laden and attacking a neighboring Parliament serve as credentials to sermonize before this council" S Jaishankar presenting India's view of terrorism and reforms in UN Council.
"Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the World's problem but the World's problems are not Europe's problems." Jaishankar's response to arm twisting by the West when it tried to force its stand on India about the Ukraine war.
"Do not worry, Senator. One democracy will settle it and you know which one.” - S Jaishankar responded to US Senator Lindsey Graham at the Munich Security Conference who said he hoped 'two democracies' would end the Kashmir issue.
"India is a reliable neighbor, a trustworthy partner, one who is prepared to go the extra mile when Sri Lanka feels the need. We will stand by Sri Lanka in this hour of need and are confident that it will overcome the challenges it faces" Dr. S Jaishankar during the Sri Lankan crisis.
"We have been very clear that we will not normalize and rationalize terrorism. We want good neighborly relations with everybody. But good neighborly relations do not mean excusing, looking away, or rationalizing terrorism. That we are very clear". This was said by S Jaishankar in Nicosia while interacting with the Indian expatriates in an apparent response to Pakistan on expressing its desire for good relations but also asking India to show “seriousness” in having a dialogue to resolve outstanding issues, including Kashmir.
"We have - as you know - a substantial inventory of Russian and Soviet-origin weapons. And that inventory grew for a variety of reasons. Not just for the merits of the weapons, but also because, over multiple decades, the western countries did not supply weapons to India." - S Jaishankar quoted as the West continues to question Russia over its offensive in Ukraine.
"I think we all - in international politics - deal with what we have. We make judgments reflective of our future interests and current situation." Dr. S Jaishankar boldly supports Russian imports in the interest of India.
"I think we should take a stand and I think we should choose a side and that is our side." Dr. S Jaishankar is being asked if India can take a stand and choose a side. Dr. S Jaishankar at Raisina Dialogue 2019.
"Beyond the traditional areas of cooperation, we have entered the digital age with its own opportunities. The area of fintech needs to be explored." Dr. S Jaishankar said that China was displaying its military might in the pivotal Indo-Pacific region.
"Just because I don't agree with you, does not make me sit on the fence. It means I am sitting on my ground." Dr. S. Jaishankar schooled the interviewer at GlobSec 2022 Bratislava Forum when she asked that "sitting on the fence is not an option to be a world leader".
"You have expressive nationalism, I mean very identity-driven, which shaped each other a lot of that in the Middle East."
"Here is the difference, nationalism has a certain connotation in Europe, which is not necessarily positive, but I think in Asia, nationalism is seen very much as a sort of natural corollary to economic progress, almost like you're independent, you progress, you are prosperous and nationalism comes with all of that." According to S. Jaishankar, in a debate on Nationalism in India.
"It wasn’t possible to stop communication between militants without an impact on all of Kashmir. How do I cut off communication between the terrorists and their masters on the one hand, but keep the internet open for other people? I would be delighted to know.” Jaishankar said in an interview with the Politico newspaper in Brussels.
"We would not accept any country telling us who to buy weapons from and who not to buy from," said Dr. S Jaishankar in the same interview.
"Terror and talks can't go hand in hand" Dr. S. Jaishankar reiterated India's stand on terrorism.
"There is an issue of what the U.S. expects abroad and what the U.S. gives at home. I think there's a reconciliation there that needs to be done." during preliminary discussions to resolve differing interpretations of diplomatic immunity following the spat over Devyani Khobragade.
"We can determine our strategic part or strategic options, but the strategic framework is something that will evolve from the interaction of world powers with each other." Dr. S Jaishankar at Council on Foreign Relations in a conversation.
"The United States has had an eighteen-year military commitment in Afghanistan, and frankly, I can't think of any country other than the United States that is even capable of such a commitment." in the same conversation.
"If you trade with someone and they are your biggest trading partner, it is impossible you don't have trade issues." Dr. S Jaishankar was quoted during the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo's visit to India.
"India supports a rule-based order in Asia, as in the rest of the world. But we confront unavoidable challenges such as terrorism, conflicts, transnational crimes, and maritime threats." Dr. S. Jaishankar cited in his speech at the 5th CICA Summit 2019 in Tajikistan's Dushanbe.
"Because you are a diplomat, doesn't mean you are untruthful. I could use much harsher words than epicenter, so believe me, considering what has been happening to us, I think epicenter is a very diplomatic word," Jaishankar said in an interview at Austria's ZIB2 podcast.

Dr. S. Jaishankar wrote a book - "The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World" to shed light on the shifting political situations and conventions around the world. In this book Dr. S Jaishankar makes references to the evolution of bilateral and multilateral foreign affairs from an era of agreements to one of the convergences, signaling a sea change in how modern international interactions are conducted.

The India Way, Strategies for an Uncertain World

By S. Jaishankar, India's Minister of External Affairs - 4th September 2020

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The reader can recognize important factors that affect and influence the dynamic interplay between state players, which in turn determines the course and result of current politics, thanks to the Foreign Minister's wisdom and diplomatic experience. He also offers a forward view of India's political posture in international settings and outlines a plan for how India might fulfill its potential in the years to come. He also outlines the different difficulties New Delhi will face and suggests legislative remedies to address them.

Below are some quotes from the book - "The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World"

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"The ethos of the Indian Ocean is a consultative one and in the long run, it is the people-centric initiatives and projects that are likely to be more sustainable."
"Asia is being shaped largely by the outlook of the US, the power of China, the weight of Russia, the collectivism of ASEAN, the volatility of the Middle East, and the rise of India."
"It was reassuring for these nations to see how staunchly India stood by them during the coronavirus pandemic."
Today, there is a new geopolitical challenge – the emergence of multipolarity.
"If connectivity is not to acquire sharp strategic meaning, then there must be credible assurances that projects are not used to exert influence."
"India’s multi-faith society is also an enormous contribution to global stability. In fact, that acts as a firewall preventing the spread of fundamentalism and radicalism from India’s West to its East."
"After all, 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' does coexist with 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is a family)."
"By going the extra mile to provide medicines to more than 120 nations, two-thirds of them as grants, a clear message of internationalism was sent."
"The efficiency of others, instead of spurring competitiveness, has actually led to putting off further reforms."
"South Asia is clearly among the least integrated regions of the world and being located at the center of the Indian Ocean, its dysfunctionality affects that larger space directly."

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India's foreign policy has evolved tremendously because of Dr. S Jaishankar. A more proactive Indian reaction to regional concerns is also being seen by the world. New Delhi took the lead in establishing the regional strategy for South Asia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing its neighbors with vital supplies of medications (eventually spreading globally) and later with vaccines on a humanitarian basis.

Dr. S Jaishankar has been instrumental in putting forward the distinctly bold face of India to the world. India is now growing towards becoming one of the global superpowers. Through his book, he has attempted to make the world understand the new India, which is now a new multi-aligned, multi-polar country that is too complex and confusing for Western politicians and commentators to attempt to understand.

At the fourth Ramnath Goenka Lecture gave an enlightening speech that quotes on how the changing circumstances should affect strategies in our interests. The below quotes are worth noting for adapting to the ever-changing scenario.

"If the world is different, we need to think, talk and engage accordingly. Falling back on the past is unlikely to help with the future." - S Jaishankar quoted at the fourth Ramnath Goenka Lecture.

"In a more constrained and interdependent world, competition has to be pursued perforce more intelligently"
"Obsessing about consistency makes little sense in changing circumstances. There is certainly a place for constants but not to the extent of elevating them to immutable concepts. It is only by recognizing the change that we are in a position to exploit opportunities"
"The purposeful pursuit of national interest in shifting global dynamics may not be easy but it must be done." - another great quote by Dr S Jaishankar at the same event.
"Our national strategy to realize even the more constant goals cannot be static in the evolving world."
"Beyond the traditional areas of cooperation, we have entered the digital age with its own opportunities. The area of fintech needs to be explored."

Terrorism emanating from its neighbor is one of the major challenges affecting India. Dr S Jaishankar has extensively quoted on the subject in a lot of his interviews and events. He has continuously worked to delegitimize it.

"Article 370 is history. Wake up and smell the coffee."
"The question of justifying what the world regards as unacceptable should not even arise; that certainly applies to state sponsorship of cross-border terrorism nor can hosting Osama Bin Laden and attacking a neighboring parliament serve as credentials to sermonize before this council." Dr S Jaishankar's response at the UNSC Session on Counter-Terrorism (2022).
"If a neighbor says I am going to do cross border terrorism, and that will bring you to the table, then I have a problem" - Jaishankar's no discussion remark on a question on why India does not engage in discussing terrorism with its neighbor.
"Victims of terrorism do not sit together with the perpetrators of terrorism to discuss terrorism." - Dr S Jaishankar's quote at the 2023 SCO Summit in Goa.
"Victims of terrorism defend themselves to counter acts of terrorism. They call it out, they delegitimize it. And that is what is happening. To come here and preach these hypocritical words as though we are on the same boat. I mean they are committing acts of terrorism. I would say Pakistan's credibility is depleting even faster than its Forex reserves." at the SCO Summit in Goa.
"There can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism." - at SCO Summit Goa.
"We would not like any state to tell us what to buy or not to buy from Russia any more than we would like any state to tell us to buy or not buy from America. That freedom of choice is ours and we think it’s in everybody’s interest to recognize that" - stated Dr. S Jaishankar before he met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
"We have always maintained that what we buy the sourcing of military equipment is very much a sovereign right." - stated Dr. S Jaishankar ahead of his meeting with Mike Pompeo.
"Globalisation is under stress due to new and emerging geo-political and geo-economic faultlines.
India supports a rule-based order in Asia, as in the rest of the world. But we confront unavoidable challenges such as terrorism, conflicts, transnational crimes, and maritime threats."
"The normal metric of measuring progress has actually been the rate of growth, OK? It's not a wrong metric, but it's not a full metric."
"If activities across borders are characterised by terrorism, extremism, and separatism, they are hardly likely to encourage trade, energy flows, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges in parallel." - S Jaishankar in Islamabad for SCO meeting held in October 2024
"If trust is lacking or cooperation inadequate if friendship has fallen short and good neighbourliness is missing somewhere, there are surely reasons to introspect and causes to address." at the same SCO meeting.

On CAA.

"I am not questioning the imperfections or otherwise of their democracy or their principles or lack of it. I am questioning their understanding of our history. If you hear comments from many parts of the world, it is as if the Partition of India never happened, there were no consequential problems which the CAA is supposed to address." - Responding to comments by the US that it is closely monitoring the CAA implementation.
"So, if you take a problem and "remove all the historical context from it, sanitize it and make it into a political correctness" argument, and say, 'I have principles and don't you have principles', "I have principles too, and one of them is the obligation to people who were let down at the time of Partition." in response to US's comments On CAA
"You cannot give up on principles, no matter how close you are with friends..."
"If you were to ask me, have other countries, other democracies, fast-tracked based on ethnicity, faith, social attributes, I can give you any number of examples."
"I am paid to fix foreign policy, I am not paid to fix social media. To be honest no one can fix social media. The nature of the platform is such that everything that you somewhat disapprovingly state is actually something that gets more eyeballs on social media."

Dr S Jaishankar has also been at the forefront when commenting on negative press on the India Elections by the Western Media and people who cannot accept the rise of a new India.

Addressing the session at the Sydney Dialogue, Jaishankar stated that: "Mr Soros is an old, rich opinionated person sitting in New York who still thinks that his views should determine how the entire world works...such people actually invest resources in shaping narratives."
"India is always… India has been a very unique country… I would say actually, in the history of the world, that it’s been a very open society… different people from different societies come to India." rejecting the US President's 'xenophobia' remark on India and China.
"I wanted to say listen, in that heat, my lowest turnout is higher than your highest turnout in the best run"
"I get a lot of these noises from the Western press and if they criticize our democracy, it's not because they lack information. It is because they think they are also political players in our election."
"These are our domestic politics which is going global, global politics which feels they must now intrude in India. How can these chaps decide who should be ruling them without consulting us?"
They (West) actually think they are part of our electorate. I think it's time today that we disabuse them, and the best way that we do that is by confidence."
"They will question your election system, your EVM, your election commission, even the weather."

He highlighted the need to stand up to these kinds of attacks and criticisms from Western media and their rankings and reports as not all media is truthful these days and some are biased and controlled.

"It is the guarantee, the guarantee is an expression of confidence. It is an expression of confidence based on what we have delivered for the last ten years."
It is important to be aware, it is important to be competitive, it is important to have the record at home to be an option abroad. - Dr. S Jaishankar said in context that the World should have options and India should be one those option during a podcast with Raj Shamani.
"It's worth thinking why? Because when something happens, we think it's natural. It's not natural. Something happens behind the scenes, you are only seeing the final production, but behind the scenes, there is a lot of work."
"If I have just said that I don't think it's really appropriate for people in one democracy to comment, especially with an agenda, on the workings of another democracy, surely you are not expecting bad manners on my side? If I am complaining that othat others do not follow the right etiquette. I think it is important atleast I set an example. So the best answer I can give you is to not answer that question."
"We chew gum and walk at the same time" - A sharp one liner response to a journo when he asked him about India's active membership in QUAD, BRICS and SCO.
Many countries get left behind due to circumstances beyond their control, but some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences. Dr. S Jaishankar stated it at UN General Assembly Address.
"Disruptions of various kinds - ranging from extreme climate events to supply chain uncertainties and financial volatility - are impacting growth and development." - S Jaishankar in Pakistan for SCO meeting

Learn from the greats: Explore quot. If I am complaining es that will inspire and challenge you.

These quotes were a great reminder of the power of words to shape thought and action, and how every word matters. Change starts with one person. Do your part; share this piece with your friends!