A New Modi Doctrine For Indian Foreign Policy?

Modi's speech marks an inflection point, an end to that order and it lays out the parameters for a new one more suited to the emerging world order.

If the polemics of Nehru in the post-Independence era carried an underlying message of confrontation with the West, Modi finally laid it to rest: "On the one side we say that our destinies are interlinked, on the other hand we still think in terms of zero sum game. If the other benefits, I stand to lose. ... Let bring ourselves in tune with the call of the times."

Saying, "We need a genuine dialogue and engagement between countries," he went on to underline the difference between a philosophy based on the idea of dichotomy that is drawn from the religious traditions of the West and Middle East and his own: "I say this from the conviction of the philosophical tradition that I come from," citing the old Sanskrit saying "Vasudeva kutumbakam", or the world is one family, to illustrate his point.

The other sign on the break from the past is the popular quest for democracy now that anti-colonialism has lost its relevance: Modi noted that in 1945 at UN's founding 51 flags flew at is building, but now there 193 flags marking the end of colonialism. If its vestiges linger on, it's an issue in the sphere of the nations that gained independence from the European powers. "There is a surge of democracy across the world," he said articulating the change.

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