India’s Glorious Past Shaping Its Global Future: Jaishankar

January 2, 2026

New Delhi — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday highlighted India’s ancient civilizational heritage and democratic tradition, saying the country’s glorious past is helping shape its global future. He emphasized that India is among the very few ancient civilizations in the world that has survived, adapted and evolved into a modern nation-state, giving it a continuity of history that few other nations possess.

Speaking at the launch of IIT Madras Global and the inaugural session of the IIT Madras tech fest Shastra, Jaishankar underlined that India’s deep sense of history and democratic choice has had significant global consequences. He pointed out that India’s decision to adopt democracy helped make the very idea of democracy a universal political concept rather than a narrow regional model.

Jaishankar said India’s civilizational continuity gives it a “sense of our past, which very few countries have,” and this historical depth offers a foundation on which the nation’s modern global influence rests. He reiterated that India’s historical values, culture and democratic principles constitute both an obligation and a duty to express its ideas on the world stage — often in partnership with other global powers.

The External Affairs Minister stressed that India today operates with relative resource constraints, yet maximizes its global impact through competitiveness, institutional strengths and international partnerships. He noted that working with partners — including Western nations — helps India further shape global norms and policies, reflecting its evolving role in the international order.

Observers say Jaishankar’s remarks reflect India’s broader foreign policy approach, which leverages the nation’s historical legacy, democratic credentials and growing economic and technological clout to expand influence across continents. This view positions India not just as a rising power but as a civilization that contributes meaningfully to global governance, innovation and multilateral cooperation.

As India continues to deepen global ties and promote its values internationally, the emphasis on historical continuity and democratic heritage underscores how New Delhi sees its past as a strategic asset in shaping its future on the world stage.