This volume, India & the World: Rhetorics & Realities, emerges from a moment of global uncertainty and national introspection. As India asserts itself on the world stage politically, economically, and philosophically, the gap between its aspirational narratives and lived realities invites deeper examination.

The chapters in this book reflect a diverse set of inquiries into how India negotiates its identity, values, and strategies in an evolving international order. Contributors engage with themes ranging from ancient philosophical legacies and social reform movements to contemporary challenges in democracy, diplomacy, security, and digital governance.

Together, these essays do not offer easy answers but rather open up space for critical thought, challenging dominant paradigms, reimagining India’s global role, and confronting the complex realities that shape both domestic and international policy. This book is an invitation to reflect, question, and engage with the many layers of India’s relationship with the world.