Do read when you can and let me know what you think. Have a great week ahead!
Warmly,
Sudarshan
I read the article and was so impressed by it that I responded to Sudarshan Ramabhadran with my own take on the subject. Here is my email below:
Hello Sri Sudarshan Padmanabhan, Well conceived and written article indeed! Congratulations!
Hanuman in my view symbolises not only Diplomacy — instituted as we today know it in, say, the Indian Foreign Ministry or US State Department. He was multifaceted. He rolled into himself also 3 other key elements that go to make Foreign Policy really effective —
(1) Intelligence-gathering machinery (say, RAW or CIA)
(2) a formidable backing of a Defense Ministry (say, MoD or Pentagon) and
(3) robust Political Institutions (say, Parliament or PMO) which repose full trust in Diplomacy and support it to the hilt.
In the Ramayana , Hanuman was successful in conduct of diplomacy because he was able to command all 3 elements above:
(1) It was the Vaanara intelligence-gathering ground-network that really provided key and credible information on Sita’s whereabouts in Lanka.
(2) It was the military might and resourcefulness of the Vaanara army that enabled translating Hanuman’s Lanka reconnaissance inputs into a feasible war-strategy founded on the Sethu (defence infrastructure) causeway.
(3) And it was the complete trust and confidence that Hanuman’s “political boss” Sri Rama reposed … without a trace of self-doubt… in Hanuman’s abilities of espionagewhich inspired the assigned diplomat to boldly encounter and confront the enemy supremo Ravana on his own terms and turf … and return safely to base after executing even a deadly special-operation of arson in Lanka that reduced half the city to ashes!
There is a famous Sanskrit Shloka in praise of Hanuman possessing qualities that in fact reflect all the 3 crucial elements above of successful Diplomacy and Foreign Policy:
Wisdom, physical strength, success, courage, Fearlessness, good health, Determination, and eloquence, All of these are bestowed upon one meditating on lord Hanuman.
Deeper Meaning:
“buddhi” refers to Intelligence.
“Balam, Dhairyam and Nirbhayam” refer to Military might and Defense Capability
“Yashas, arogatam, ajadyam” and “vaak patutvam” collectively refer to clearly articulated Political Will and Determination manifested in Trust reposed in the institution and processes of diplomacy.
Writer, philosopher, litterateur, history buff, lover of classical South Indian music, books, travel, a wondering mind
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3 thoughts on ““How Hanuman offers lessons for India’s and the world’s public diplomacy orientation today””
The Original Article clearly brings out Sri Anjaneya’s Capabilities as the Best Diplomat. The Email from Sri Sudarshan Madabushi summarises and gives in a Nut shell. Very very happy to see the Fine Efforts by these two Scholars to enlighten the Capabilities of our Vedic Culture. Our Salutations to Sri Anjaneya
The Original Article clearly brings out Sri Anjaneya’s Capabilities as the Best Diplomat. The Email from Sri Sudarshan Madabushi summarises and gives in a Nut shell. Very very happy to see the Fine Efforts by these two Scholars to enlighten the Capabilities of our Vedic Culture. Our Salutations to Sri Anjaneya
The Original Article clearly brings out Sri Anjaneya’s Capabilities as the Best Diplomat. The Email from Sri Sudarshan Madabushi summarises and gives in a Nut shell. Very very happy to see the Fine Efforts by these two Scholars to enlighten the Capabilities of our Vedic Culture. Our Salutations to Sri Anjaneya
🙏🙏
The Original Article clearly brings out Sri Anjaneya’s Capabilities as the Best Diplomat. The Email from Sri Sudarshan Madabushi summarises and gives in a Nut shell. Very very happy to see the Fine Efforts by these two Scholars to enlighten the Capabilities of our Vedic Culture. Our Salutations to Sri Anjaneya