Act East, Look West, Engage North, Reconnect South: Anchoring India's Diplomacy Introduction India’s foreign policy has undergone significant evolution over the past few decades, marked by a series of strategic initiatives that reflect the nation’s ambition to strengthen ties across global regions. As the world's largest democracy and a rising power, India has aimed to balance its diplomatic efforts, focusing on both immediate neighbors and far-reaching partners. The slogan "Act East, Look West, Engage North, Reconnect South" encapsulates the essence of India's contemporary foreign policy. This approach signifies its strategic outreach in the East, engagement with the West, diplomacy in the North, and cultural and economic connections to the South—all while anchoring its core principles of autonomy, development, and global cooperation. Act East: Strengthening Ties with Asia India's Act East Policy has its roots in the Look East Policy initia...
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The Silent Strength of Jawaharlal Nehru University: Contributions to India’s National Security Background Ever since I enrolled in JNU, I’ve been asked countless times, mostly by people who’ve never set foot in the campus, about the so-called “anti-national” image of the university. Questions like, “Why is JNU so political?” or “Why is JNU known for being leftist?” have been commonplace. After spending around two years here, I’ve come to understand this place more deeply, and it frustrates me to see how JNU is often misrepresented in the media. This portrayal has created a distorted perception, which overshadows the many positive aspects of the university. People tend to focus on the negative, but rarely hear about the good things happening here. In this article, I aim to shed light on the some less-known aspects of JNU and challenge the prevail...
Snow Lions on the Frontlines: Honouring the Legacy of the Special Frontier Force
Introduction Every November 14th, India celebrates Children’s Day, marking the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, a day dedicated to the country's youngest generation. However, this date has another significant meaning that the general public is mostly unaware of. On this same day in 1962, in the shadows of a recently fought border conflict, Nehru established a special unit whose name remains little known even today: the Special Frontier Force (SFF). Nicknamed the “Snow Warriors” and sometimes referred to as “Dalai Lama’s Army,” the SFF is a covert unit drawn from Tibetans and Gurkhas, selected and trained to operate in high-altitude warfare. Back then it was known as ‘Establishment 22’ in official circles and ‘tutu fauj’ among its Tibetan soldiers. Created in response to the Sino-Indian War, the SFF was envisioned as an elite force capable of conducting unconventional and covert missions along India’s mountainous northern borders. Toda...