The adoption of 21st June as International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, in response to an India-led resolution with a record high number of co-sponsors, was a landmark event. In this backdrop, it is all the more important to mobilize our ancient resources of ideas and bring them to practical and strategic use in building an Indian narrative in every domain. With this aim in mind, in January 2019, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a two-day national seminar on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Relevance of India’s Ancient Thinking to Contemporary Strategic Reality in collaboration with the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The proceedings of the seminar are being presented in the form of this edited volume, which contains contributions from eminent scholars, diplomats and strategic thinkers on different aspects of India’s civilizational contribution and their relevance in international politics, diplomacy and projection of India’s soft power. It will be of interest to readers in philosophy, history, political thought, international relations, diplomacy and India’s strategic culture.

This commentary origially appeared in Vivekananda International Foundation.