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By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

India's multi-align diplomacy triumphs

New Delhi: West Asia has transformed into a battlefield rained by fireballs. Seas or land, everywhere echoes the roar of cataclysmic explosions, flickering flames, and swirling smoke clouds. et amid such adversity, Indian ships boldly waving the Tricolour navigate the strait undeterred, entering the Arabian Sea. More remarkably, Iran has sealed its airspace to global flights but opened it for the safe evacuation of Indians.   This scene evokes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's memorable 2014...

India's multi-align diplomacy triumphs

New Delhi: West Asia has transformed into a battlefield rained by fireballs. Seas or land, everywhere echoes the roar of cataclysmic explosions, flickering flames, and swirling smoke clouds. et amid such adversity, Indian ships boldly waving the Tricolour navigate the strait undeterred, entering the Arabian Sea. More remarkably, Iran has sealed its airspace to global flights but opened it for the safe evacuation of Indians.   This scene evokes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's memorable 2014 interview. He stated that "there was a time when we counted waves from the shore; now the time has come to take the helm and plunge into the ocean ourselves."   In a world racing toward conflict, Modi has proven India's foreign policy ranks among the world's finest. Guided by 'Nation First' and prioritising Indian safety and interests, it steadfastly embodies  'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' , the world as one family.   Policy Shines Modi's foreign policy shines with such clarity and patience that even as war flames engulf West Asian nations, Indians studying and working there return home safe. In just 13 days, nearly 100,000 were evacuated from Gulf war zones, mostly by air, some via Armenia by road. PM Modi talked with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian to secure Iran's airspace for the safe evacuation of Indians, a privilege denied to any other nation. Additionally, clearance was granted for Indian ships carrying crude oil and LPG to pass safely through the Hormuz Strait. No other country's vessels are navigating these waters, except for those of Iran's ally, China. The same strategy worked in the Ukraine-Russia war: talks with both presidents ensured safe corridors, repatriating over 23,000 students and businessmen. Iran, Israel, or America, all know India deems terrorism or war unjustifiable at any cost. PM Modi amplified anti-terror campaigns from UN to global platforms, earning open support from many nations.   Global Powerhouse Bolstered by robust foreign policy and economic foresight, India emerges as a global powerhouse, undeterred by tariff hurdles. Modi's adept diplomacy yields notable successes. Contrast this with Nehru's era: wedded to Non-Aligned Movement, he watched NAM member China seize vast Ladakh territory in war. Today, Modi's government signals clearly, India honors friends, spares no foes. Abandoning non-alignment, it embraces multi-alignment: respecting sovereignties while prioritizing human welfare and progress. The world shifts from unipolar or bipolar to multipolar dynamics.   Modi's policy hallmark is that India seal defense deals like the S-400 and others with Russia yet sustains US friendship. America bestows Legion of Merit; Russia, its highest civilian honor, Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. India nurtures ties with Israel, Palestine, Iran via bilateral talks. Saudi Arabia stands shoulder-to-shoulder across fronts; UAE trade exceeds $80 billion. UN's top environment award, UNEP Champions of the Earth, graces India, unlike past when foreign nations campaigned against us on ecological pretexts.   This policy's triumph roots in economic empowerment. India now ranks the world's fourth-largest economy, poised for third in 1-2 years. The 2000s dubbed it 'fragile'; then-PM economist Dr. Manmohan Singh led. Yet  'Modinomics'  prevailed. As COVID crippled supply chains, recession loomed, inflation soared and growth plunged in developed countries,  Modinomics  made India the 'bright star.' Inflation stayed controlled, growth above 6.2 per cent. IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas praised it, advising the world to learn from India.

Breaking barriers, shaping the future

The nine days of Navratri celebrate goddesses who embody strength in different forms; valour, compassion, creativity, austerity, devotion, justice, protection, forgiveness and wisdom. In our annual Navratri series, we celebrate the lives of nine women who strive to build happy and safe spaces for themselves and those around them. 


Part - 1


Name: Sita Devi | Where: Karnal, Haryana
Name: Sita Devi | Where: Karnal, Haryana

In Haryana, a state once infamous for its deep gender imbalance and harsh restrictions on women, stories of modern-day Shakti are unfolding. Among the most inspiring is that of Sita Devi from Karnal district — now renowned as “Namo Drone Didi.”


Armed with a drone and a vehicle, Sita has become a symbol of empowerment, resilience, and the breaking of barriers. After 15 days of intensive, free drone-pilot training in Gurugram through government programs run by IFFCO, Sita Devi started working in farms and fields, spraying pesticides and earns Rs 400 per acre. For her, the drone is not just a tool of livelihood but a symbol of flight — an ascent into independence and dignity.


The journey was far from easy. Leaving home for training was daunting, and balancing household duties with new responsibilities posed challenges. But her husband, Khushiram, stood firmly by her side, encouraging her to step beyond tradition. Sita credits his support and government schemes for giving her the confidence to adopt technology and pursue opportunities outside the home. Now, she not only contributes financially but also secures quality education for her children.


Her efforts have drawn national attention. Recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders has amplified her role as a pioneer. Yet, her real achievement lies in inspiring other rural women. Seeing Sita command a drone in the fields challenges stereotypes and sparks dreams that that, women, too, can master machines and embrace innovation. Today, Haryana has 108 “Drone Didis” like Sita, each one rewriting the story of what women can do in agriculture and beyond.


The backdrop makes this transformation more striking. In 2014, Haryana’s sex ratio was a shocking 871 women per 1,000 men. Campaigns like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao raised it to 923 by 2019, but by 2024 it had slipped back to 910. The numbers remind us that progress is fragile — and that true equality requires more than statistics. It demands visible, lived change in the lives of women.


Sita Devi embodies this change. Her husband calls the scheme “transformative,” enabling women to make productive contributions to society. Her story proves that when resilience meets opportunity, barriers collapse. Haryana’s Drone Didis are not just economic contributors; they are modern embodiments of Shakti, rising above centuries-old restrictions to lead their communities forward.


During Navratri, as we worship the Goddess in her many forms, stories like Sita Devi’s remind us that Shakti is not confined to temples or myths. It lives in women who seize the tools of progress — be it a plough, a book, or a drone — and use them to lift entire families and communities.


With each flight of her drone, Sita Devi sends a powerful message: empowered women are not just beneficiaries of change — they are the very force driving it.

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