Giving a talk on “India in a world in flux” as part of the Rasiklal M. Mehta Memorial Lecture organized by the Andhra Chamber of Commerce in Chennai on 10 December, Tirumurti said that the world was changing fast and India must take a stronger and clearer role in global affairs. “The world order is breaking in politics, economy and technology and India cannot stay quiet,” he said.
Protectionism and power politics were now deciding trade, technology and market access. The old idea that India should only focus on economic growth without taking a stand on world issues would not work anymore, he said. India’s economic future now depended on how well it handled global geopolitics, he added.
Tirumurti spoke about the recent case where three European ambassadors wrote an article in an Indian daily criticising India’s stand on Russia. According to him, this occurred as a result of Europe’s frustration over its inability to manage the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He pointed out that the United States continued to buy important goods from Russia but put a 25 per cent extra tariff on India for buying Russian oil. This showed how Western countries were taking out their internal problems on India, he said.
India and China were still facing serious issues. These included the border stand-off, China’s support for Pakistan, the rising trade gap and China not allowing Indian companies fair access. While suggesting that both countries must think carefully, he, however, felt that India should stay firm.
Tirumurti said India had always followed strategic autonomy, which meant taking decisions based on national interest. This came from India’s civilisational values and freedom movement. “Strategic autonomy is not enough. India must also show leadership so that other countries trust and follow India’s independent stand,” he said.
He said that India had stayed mostly silent on major world conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the tensions in West Asia. If India did not speak up, other countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia or Qatar might fill the space and this might not help India’s interests. “If India wants support from others during its own crises, India must also engage with their issues,” he said.
Tirumurti said the United States and China were creating their own groups for technology, digital rules and critical minerals. India must decide where it stood and must work to shape global standard, he said. “India is in a good position to represent the Global South but must use this opportunity,” he added. He said that India had a real chance to shape the new world order. India must increase its global presence and act with confidence, he added.