The story of Dr. S Jaishankar reads like a political thriller: favored by Manmohan Singh, rejected by Congress, and handpicked by Modi to lead India’s foreign affairs without a single vote cast in his name. This career diplomat’s elevation in 2019 marked a seismic shift in how India selects its global representatives.
Jaishankar’s credentials were impeccable. A St Stephen’s alumnus and Jawaharlal Nehru University scholar, he navigated the end of the Cold War as a young officer and rose through ranks handling Europe’s reunification and Asia’s rise. By 2007, as Ambassador to Singapore, his star was shining bright. Manmohan Singh, the economist-PM, saw in him the ideal Foreign Secretary to steer the US nuclear pact. But Congress’s internal politics prevailed; Jaishankar was ‘passed over,’ fueling whispers of bias against his straightforward style.
Enter 2019. Fresh off re-election, PM Modi valued Jaishankar’s insights from ambassadorships in key capitals. Without electoral fanfare, he was sworn in as EAM, later securing a Rajya Sabha berth. His impact has been profound: Vaccine Maitri during the pandemic, firm pushback on China’s Galwan incursion, and elevating the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor.
Jaishankar’s style—blunt, data-driven, and unapologetically Indian—has redefined diplomacy. At BRICS summits, he calls out ‘unilateral’ sanctions; in Washington, he advances tech transfers. Congress’s past snub now seems like their loss, as Jaishankar’s playbook aligns perfectly with Modi’s assertive worldview.
In the annals of Indian politics, Jaishankar symbolizes meritocracy over nepotism, guiding India through turbulent times with the steady hand of a seasoned navigator.