Strategic Choices, Ethical Dilemmas: Stories from the Mahabharat

Hamburg, 30 November 2023 – Is it possible to win and still keep one’s soul? Drawing on the timeless stories of the Mahabharat (the ancient Indian epic, which flourishes in the hearts and minds of many even today) this new book argues, yes, we can. The authors, Dr. Aruna Narlikar, Prof. Dr. Amitabh Mattoo, and Prof. Dr. Amrita Narlikar, apply the practical wisdom of the Mahabharat to questions of foreign policy, global governance, and our everyday lives. They explore winning strategies that are suited to the modern day and work together with ethical choices.

Written for a broader audience of scholars, practitioners, and other avid readers, Strategic Choices, Ethical Dilemmas will be useful for all those seeking to put the world to rights and provide some tasty food for thought for those who enjoy paradoxes and squares circles.

‘. . . a brilliant disquisition on the timeless lessons in statecraft’ Shashi Tharoor, former minister and Member of Lok Sabha

‘ . . . beautifully crafted’ Nirmala Sitharaman, finance minister of India

‘An exciting and unique contribution to addressing modern economic and political problems via a wonderful, ancient epic’ Jagdish Bhagwati, economist, and university professor of economics and law, Columbia University

‘With their rich academic and research experience and deep understanding of this “Itihasa“, [the authors] have produced a wonderful exploration . . . to push the envelope of Mahabharat research further’ Bibek Debroy, economist, and chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India

‘A remarkable book . . . If there is a beginning to an Indian school of international relations, it is in a work like this’ Shivshankar Menon, former foreign secretary and former national security adviser of India

‘In this elegant and enchanting volume, [the authors] retell the ancient stories from the Mahabharat to help us reflect and cope with the multiple moral dilemmas of modern life’ C. Raja Mohan, writer and columnist

‘[This book] seeks to address the perennial confrontation between realpolitik and ethics . . . Indeed, bringing in the Bharatiya narratives will be a valuable addition’ Santishree Pandit, vice chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University

‘This is a book that could not be timelier . . . a departure from conventional approaches to strategic theory . . . a refreshing tonic in these jaded times’ Malini Parthasarathy, former editor, The Hindu, and former chairperson, The Hindu Group