Prime Minister Modi's I-day speech was an exercise in geopolitical maneuvering. He was not just addressing his countrymen, but also warning India's foes and exploring cooperation with India's friends. I am sure the world must have listened very carefully.

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To start with his comments about the two World Wars were not just about India's ability to rise amidst crises, but also about the predestined failure of expansionism/ revisionism. He said, "Those who were busy finding new places to put their flags... underestimated us"

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The idea is to tell the bully next door- China, that expansionism invariably meets a dead end. Every expansionist bully like China thinks that it is unstoppable, and at its zenith, even an Imperial Japan or a Nazi Germany would have backed itself to run over the entire world

3/n

Consider it a warning of sorts. Expansionist tendencies are going to backfire and badly at that. Then came the reference to India's improving relations with its 'extended neighbourhood'. The Prime Minister was indirectly hinting at India's 'Necklace of Diamonds.'

4/n

While much has been written about the 'string of pearls'- China's strategy of encircling India in its own backyard by building ports at Chittagong, Gwadar and Colombo, not many know or talk about India's 'Necklace of Diamonds' that counterencircles the 'String of pearls'.

5/n

India's Chabahar port in Iran, access to Changi Naval base in Singapore, access to the Duqm port (Oman), access to the Assumption Island in Seychelles and plans to develop its maiden deep-sea port at Sabang in Indonesia, outdoes the 'String of Pearls'.

6/n

PM Modi's recognition of 'extended neighbourhood' is an unapologetic recognition of plans to contain China in the Indo-Pacific. The 'extended neighbourhood' itself might go as far as Japan, S. Korea, Vietnam and Australia. The plan is to create a bigger circle around China.

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The clearest of his utterances were however about 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. And it was necessary for PM Modi to put it like this. He made it clear that 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' is not about import substitution, but to 'Make for the world'. This is a message to the free world.

8/n

Indian self-reliance isn't isolationist in approach. India wants to rise for the sake of a better world order, by becoming self-reliant.

For the first time, I believe, an Indian Prime Minister has interacted at length with the entire world on the occasion of I-day.

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