External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar today said that the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are not merely religious texts but profound guides that offer valuable lessons for global politics and diplomacy. He was speaking at the Pune Book Festival organised by the National Book Trust, where he delivered a lecture on the theme ‘From Diplomacy to Discourse’.

Dr Jaishankar emphasized that India’s foreign policy should move beyond Western frameworks and be rooted in the country’s own civilizational and cultural ethos. He cited the example of Lord Ram from the Ramayana, who united diverse forces to build a strong alliance, describing it as an enduring inspiration for nations in building partnerships with friendly countries. The programme featured an interaction led by National Book Trust Director Yuvraj Malik. Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, Minister Chandrakant Patil, noted writer Vishwas Patil, and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.