India Foundation in collaboration with Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Affairs (SSIFS), Ministry of External Affairs, hosted the Sushma Swaraj Lectures on 19 November 2025. The one-day lecture series titled ‘Introduction to India’ gave 24 foreign diplomats the holistic view of India’s Foreign Policy, History, Polity, Economy and the New World Order and India’s role which was delivered by eminent thought leaders.
The lecture series started with the welcome address by Maj. Gen Dhruv Katoch, Director, India Foundation and Ambassador Raj Kumar Srivastava, Dean, SSIFS. The welcome address set the tone for the one-day lecture series, where they hoped that the participants would get a comprehensive view of India.
The first lecture on India’s Foreign Policy was delivered by Prof C. Raja Mohan, Contributing Editor, Indian Express and Visiting Professor, Institute of South Asian Studies, NUS, Singapore. Prof C. Raja Mohan appraised the participants about the evolution of India’s foreign policy pre and post-independence. and how it guides the current decision making.
The second session on Indian History was addressed by Dr. Hindol Sengupta, Professor, Jindal School of International Affairs & Director, Jindal India Institute who informed the participants about India’s rich history and India’s place in the global world and how India’s past has shaped India’s society.
Dr. Swapan Dasgupta, former Member of Parliament and Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation delivered the third lecture of the series on Indian Polity. His lecture focused on India’s diverse society where he briefed the participants about how different parts of the country have different concerns and how India’s polity has evolved over the years.
Shri Jayant Sinha, Former Minister of State and Member, Governing Council, India Foundation delivered a lecture on Indian Economy. He spoke to the participants about the growth trajectory of Indian economy with a particular emphasis on green economy.
The last session on New World Order was delivered by Dr. Ram Madhav, President, India Foundation. He spoke on how the global order has evolved. He also spoke about AI, regionalism and non-state actors and how they are dominating global narratives.
The one day lecture series, named after the former External Affairs Minister of India, provided the diplomats with an opportunity to get a birds’ view of India and understanding the diverse set of nuances that stitch the mosaic of this country.
