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पञ्चाङ्गTithiJyeṣṭha Śukla CaturthīNakṣatraPunarvasuṚtuGrīṣma · SummerSaṃvatVikrami 2083
The Cover Essay · No. 142

A Republic of Ideas, a Civilisation of Argument.

For three thousand years, Bhārat has answered the world's hardest questions with debate, not dogma. Samvād convenes that tradition for the century ahead — independent policy research, long-form essays, and the slow craft of public thought.

Sunlight through a Mughal jali stone lattice
Featured in The Financial TimesCarnegie India FellowshipOxford Centre for Indian StudiesAshoka UniversityThe Hindu · Editorial PageReuters InstituteICRIERNikkei AsiaFeatured in The Financial TimesCarnegie India FellowshipOxford Centre for Indian StudiesAshoka UniversityThe Hindu · Editorial PageReuters InstituteICRIERNikkei Asia

भू-रणनीति

India's Strategic Calculus in a Multipolar Asia: Navigating the Dragon and the Eagle

By Dr. Rajiv Sharma · Founding Director

India's Strategic Calculus in a Multipolar Asia: Navigating the Dragon and the Eagle

As the post-Cold War security architecture fractures under the pressure of intense systemic rivalry, Asia has emerged as the primary theater of geopolitical friction. In navigating the complex competitive dynamic between the United States and China, India finds itself at a historic inflection point—one that requires a delicate synthesis of civilizational autonomy and strategic pragmatism.

As the post-Cold War security architecture fractures, India stands at a historic inflection point — one that demands a delicate synthesis of civilizational autonomy and strategic pragmatism.

In a multipolar order, alignment is not a permanent commitment but a floating anchor. India's true sovereignty lies in the strategic autonomy of its choices, refusing to participate in binary alliances.

Dr. Rajiv Sharma

वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्

An Anthology of Many Tongues

One republic, written in twenty-two scripts.

Every issue opens with a verse from one of India’s living traditions — Sanskrit and Tamil, Urdu and Bengali, Punjabi and Pali — because the argument of this country has never been monolingual.

Sanskrit · Rig Veda

आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः

Let noble thoughts come to us from every direction.

Ṛgveda I.89.1

Tamil · Tirukkuṟaḷ

யாதும் ஊரே யாவரும் கேளிர்

Every town is my home; every soul, my kin.

Kaṇiyaṉ Pūṅkuṉṟaṉār

Urdu · Mir Taqi Mir

گفتگو ریختہ میں ہم سے نہ کر

Speak not to me in Rekhta — it is the speech of my street.

Mīr, Dīwān

Bengali · Tagore

যেখানে মন ভয়শূন্য, উচ্চ যেখানে শির

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.

Rabīndranāth Ṭhākur, Gītāñjali

Punjabi · Guru Granth Sāhib

ਏਕੁ ਪਿਤਾ ਏਕਸ ਕੇ ਹਮ ਬਾਰਿਕ

One is our Father; we are all His children.

Gurū Arjan Dev

Pali · Dhammapada

मनोपुब्बङ्गमा धम्मा

All that we are arises from our thoughts.

Dhammapada I.1

The Fellowship

Forty-two scholars. One conversation.

Our fellows come from courtrooms in Allahabad, classrooms in Cambridge, and field stations in the Nilgiris. They write, they argue, they publish only what they would defend in person.

Dr. Rajiv Sharma
राजीव

Dr. Rajiv Sharma

Founding Director

Priya Mehta
प्रिया

Priya Mehta

Head, Discourse & Journalism

Dr. Arun Kumar
अरुण

Dr. Arun Kumar

Chief Economist

Rear Adm. Sunil Gupta (Retd.)
सुनील

Rear Adm. Sunil Gupta (Retd.)

Strategic Affairs Advisor

अहं ब्रह्मास्मि — विद्या ददाতি विनयम्

Meet our Complete Leadership & Advisory Board →

पत्रिका

The Samvād Quarterly

A printed journal of consequence, four times a year.

Hand-bound in Sirpur cotton paper, set in Fraunces and Tiro Devanagari, posted to thirty-one countries. Each issue gathers six long essays, one photo-portfolio, and a single conversation worth keeping.

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