Pune, 20 December 2025: On Saturday, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar graced the Pune LitFest, a key event of the larger Pune Book Festival, where he highlighted that the Ramayana and Mahabharata are not just religious texts, but profound guides offering valuable lessons for global politics and diplomacy. During the event, Jaishankar also responded to the question, 'Is one Jaishankar enough for India?'
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Delivering a lecture on the theme 'From Diplomacy to Discourse', Jaishankar also drew parallels between coalition politics and a multipolar world, stressing that India's national interests shape its approach to global coalitions and partnerships.
During his session at the Pune LitFest on Saturday, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar was asked if one Jaishankar was enough for India. He responded, “Your question is the wrong question. You should have actually asked me: there is only one Modi. Because ultimately the diplomats…even Sri Hanuman finally serves…,” referencing Lord Ram. The question was posed during his participation in the Pune Book Festival.
Dr. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of India's foreign policy moving beyond Western frameworks, rooting it in the country's civilizational and cultural values. He pointed to Lord Ram from the Ramayana, who united diverse forces to build a powerful alliance, as a timeless example for nations in forging strong partnerships. Additionally, he highlighted Lord Hanuman as an exemplary diplomat, showcasing the depth of India’s diplomatic traditions.
Talking about the multipolar world, Jaishankar said, "The world today is like an era of coalition politics. No one has a majority. No coalition has a majority. So what happens is that constantly combinations are formed, deals are struck, somebody is up, somebody is down, and some issue comes up. A multipolar world is like having many parties...Sometimes you are with one, and for some other issue, you are with another."
The event featured discussions led by National Book Trust Director Yuvraj Malik, and dignitaries like Union Ministers Murlidhar Mohol and Chandrakant Patil. Jaishankar also interacted with young audiences, highlighting the importance of diplomacy and literature, and visited the mobile consular van and book stalls at the festival, praising the youth’s enthusiasm for reading.
He also took to X & made a post In a post on X, he said, "Was great to be among young Punekars at the Pune LitFest 2025 today. Spoke about writing as a medium of self-expression, diplomacy and politics. And reflected on making decisions and choices. Delighted to see the enthusiasm among the young for reading. Also visited the mobile consular van and various book stalls at the venue."
The Pune Book Festival is an annual event held in Pune, India, celebrating literature, books, and the literary community. It is organized by the National Book Trust (NBT) and showcases a wide range of books from various genres, offering a platform for authors, publishers, and readers to connect. The festival features book launches, author interactions, and panel discussions, often focusing on contemporary themes, global issues, and cultural topics.