BJP senior leader and author Ram Madhav on Sunday emphasised the need for India to assert its role in the new world order by shunning its lethargic approach to global issues.

Participating in a discussion after launching his book ‘The New World: 21st Century Global Order and India’ at a hotel here on Sunday, he observed that India had failed to play a significant role in the world order since its independence in 1947.

“There is confusion all around, and India must understand where the world is going,” he said and stressed that becoming a ‘Vishwa Guru’ requires more than just romantic notions to play a role in the global order.

Finding fault with the nation’s lethargic attitude towards the changes, instead of craving for a seat in the UNSC, Mr. Madhav suggested that India should focus on building regional multilateralism in its extended neighbourhood in the Indian Ocean, given the failure of global agencies like the UN.

He mentioned that he had made these suggestions in his book, which explores the rise and fall of great powers and the international orders they create. The book addresses pressing concerns, including the rise of China, the decline of global multilateralism, the impact of Artificial Intelligence and the challenges posed by demographics and climate change.

The discussion was organised by the Forum for Nationalist Thinkers, Hyderabad, in association with BEST Innovation University. Former Ambassador to Russia Venkatesh Varma, Krishnadeva Rao, Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR, Rupa Vasudevan, Vice-Chancellor of BEST Innovation University, and senior journalist Uma Sudhir participated in the discussion.