From left: Ram Muivah, BJP MLA from Manipur, Shyam Jaju, former BJP National Vice-President, Swami Anand Swaroop Ji Maharaj, author Kr Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Naresh Rawal, former Gujarat Home Minister, and Prof. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, former Minister and BJP Member of Parliament. (Below) The guest of honour, Swami Anand Swaroop Ji Maharaj, lighting the ceremonial lamp before the start of the discussion
The two books written by Kr. Rajiv Ranjan Singh, President of ICPRD, capture in detail the transformative changes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought into India’s foreign policy and its empowerment of women
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has the unique distinction of being the global leader about whom the maximum number of books have been written. However, most of these books on Modi that are on shelves today focus primarily on tracing his journey as a politician who rose to the highest chair in the land from the humblest of origins and the lowest levels of the political structure. The narratives in most of these books highlight how a simple party worker became one of the most influential politicians in the world.
In that respect, the two books, Modi Ki Videsh Niti and Mahila Sashaktikaran, written by Kr. Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Founder and President, India Centre for Policy Research and Development (ICPRD), are a refreshing departure from the prevailing trend. The books turn the spotlight on two important policy interventions in which Modi has personally invested considerable energy and resources for ushering in transformative change. These themes were at the core of a book discussion that was organised at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on April 9, 2025.
The event was graced by the Peethadheeshwar of the Shambhavi Peeth, Swami Anand Swaroop Ji Maharaj. Other attendees were Shyam Jaju, former BJP National Vice-President, Prof. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, former Minister and BJP Member of Parliament, and Naresh Rawal, former Gujarat Home Minister, Ram Muivah, BJP MLA from Ukhrul, Manipur as well as author Kr. Rajiv Ranjan Singh. Also present were senior journalists Sanjay Singh, who edited Modi Ki Videsh Niti, and Amit Kumar, who edited Mahila Sashaktikaran. The program was organised by ICPRD and the books were published by Diamond Books. The English edition, Modi’s Foreign Policy—A Shifting Paradigm, was also released on the occasion. Recalling PM Modi’s commitment to women’s empowerment, Shyam Jaju recalled that the first bill to be passed in a special session in the new Parliament building, after its inauguration, was the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, which was subsequently signed into law by President Droupadi Murmu. These actions, he said, went beyond mere optics, and sent a message not only to India but to the world.
Clockwise from above: Shyam Jaju cited many examples of PM Modi’s hands-on approach to foreign policy; Ram Muivah highlighted the importance of books like Modi Ki Videsh Niti and Mahila Sashaktikaran for maintaining a public record of contemporary policy developments; a large number of academics and researchers participated in the discussion
Former Minister and BJP MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi spoke at length on the issue of women’s empowerment and shared her experiences about the changes she has witnessed over the past decade both as a parliamentarian and academician
Today, the Indian passport holds a new identity on the global stage. When we travel abroad and people learn that we are from India, their perception changes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has carried out such impactful work during his tenure that India has garnered wide international support. Modi ji has always said that no one should look down upon our country and today, this self-confidence is being realised through his foreign policy,” remarked Jaju.
Modi Ki Videsh Niti has diligently chronicled Modi’s significant foreign tours and the outcomes of those engagements. This is an essential ready reckoner for researchers and academics working in the field of international relations.
Prof. Rita Bahuguna Joshi discussed in detail the steps taken under Modi’s guidance for women’s empowerment and highlighted how the author has presented these efforts in an accessible, factual, and engaging manner in Mahila Sashaktikaran. “I have read the book, Mahila Sashaktikaran, very seriously. It is not just a documentation of the current government’s policies and efforts, it also draws a comprehensive outline of the empowerment movement from past to present. The book not only informs but also inspires its readers,” she said. Senior BJP leader Naresh Rawal also congratulated the author and encouraged him to write on other such relevant topics.
Swami Anand Swaroop Ji Maharaj congratulated the author and encouraged him to
write on various social issues in the future.
He shared his detailed thoughts on both books and remarked on how the Gita is now being studied even in Muslim countries, which is a significant moment for sanatanis (followers of the eternal tradition). As the guest of honour, Swami Anand Swaroop Ji Maharaj also highlighted how advanced western democracies are embracing many traditions of Hindu dharma and how this helps India to project its soft power on the global stage. He narrated his experiences in this regard on his travels to other countries. He also credited Modi for making sanatani value systems a part of his foreign policy, such as promoting yoga through World Yoga Day. In Mahila Sashaktikaran, the author has highlighted the invaluable contribution of women to India’s overall development. Over the past decade, Union government schemes and legal reforms such as the Nirbhaya Act (2013), amendments to the Hindu Succession Act, and the ban on triple talaq—have made women more self reliant and confident. Measures taken in the fields of education, health, employment, and political participation have transformed both the standard of living and the perspectives of women.
The two books were formally launched by His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on March 4 in New Delhi.
Today, the western world is embracing many traditions of Hindu dharma. Now, foreigners have started showing a lot of respect for the saffron dress of a sanyasi like me. I can tell you that was not always the case. This is a testament of India’s acceptance in the new global order. Much of the credit for this change must go to our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who has elevated the stature of Bharat on the global stage. This book, Modi Ki Videsh Niti, tells us how we have reached there.
Swami Anand Swaroop Ji Maharaj, Peethadheeshwar, Shambhavi Peeth
Clockwise from top: Former Gujarat Home Minister Naresh Rawal highighted some of the key issues that have been analysed in both books; author Kr. Rajiv Ranjan Singh gave the vote of thanks and complimented the participants who livened up the discussion; the programme was moderated by Jainendra Singh, Assistant Director, All India Radio
The two books were formally launched by His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on March 4, 2025 in New Delhi
