India’s Call: This Is No Era for War, but for Peace

- Lalit Garg-

The world today is passing through a period where war and violence threaten the progress of civilization. The ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict stands as the most recent example before us. This war has not only shaken Europe’s stability but has also plunged the global economy into a deep crisis. Thousands have been killed, millions displaced, and energy as well as food shortages have severely affected developing nations. In such testing times, India has once again demonstrated its traditional policy of non-violence, disarmament, and non-alignment, making it clear that war can never be a solution to any problem. By inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit India, New Delhi has signaled its willingness to play an active role in brokering a ceasefire and peace settlement. This step deserves to be welcomed, for if India succeeds in bringing Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table, it will serve not only their interests but also the interests of the entire world. The darkness of war will give way to the light of peace.

India’s invitation to President Zelensky is not merely a peace initiative but also a strategic diplomatic response to the maneuvers of the United States. In recent years, the U.S. has attempted to destabilize India’s economy by imposing trade tariffs and applying various forms of economic pressure. However, the Modi government, through its resolute diplomacy, has conveyed that India will no longer succumb to such external pressures. By extending this invitation, India has demonstrated its ability to maintain dialogue with both Russia and Ukraine while pursuing an independent foreign policy—choosing peace and balance over surrendering to American expectations. This is a testament to India’s self-reliant, courageous, and globally responsible leadership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stated, “This is not an era of war.” This is not merely a diplomatic expression; it represents India’s eternal philosophy and cultural outlook. During the Russia–Ukraine war, India’s role has extended far beyond words into concrete humanitarian action. Under “Operation Ganga,” thousands of Indian students and citizens were safely evacuated. India sent medicines, humanitarian aid, and relief supplies to Ukraine. It also maintained consistent dialogue with both Russia and Ukraine.

In fact, in August last year, Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Ukraine, after a prior visit to Russia. Modi has held continuous discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, clearly conveying India’s stand that peace must be restored—that this is not the time for war, but for peace and development. India also welcomed the Alaska summit held between the U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy alone are the way forward to ceasefire and peace. Should the process of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine ever take shape, India’s role could be decisive. Today, India’s image has emerged as that of a reliable mediator. India is not only a large nation by virtue of its population and economy, but also possesses a distinct cultural and moral identity in the global arena. The land of Gandhi, enriched with the compassion of the Buddha and the non-violence of Mahavira, cannot be ignored when it raises the flag of peace. This is precisely why the world today looks to India with the expectation that it will lead the cause of peace. This role not only establishes India as a rising global power but also as a true “Vishwaguru”—a world teacher. For India believes: “Peace is the real path of humanity, and non-violence its greatest strength.”

India’s peace policy is not confined to the Russia–Ukraine conflict alone. Whether it was the Iran–Israel or Israel–Hamas confrontations, the Afghanistan crisis, or the turbulence in the Middle East, India has consistently prioritized dialogue and diplomacy over confrontation. At the G20 summit, Prime Minister Modi reminded world leaders that the challenges confronting humanity cannot be resolved through war but only through cooperation, peace, and harmony. He highlighted the suffering of developing nations and the economic turmoil caused by wars, stressing that it is the poor and smaller nations who pay the heaviest price for conflicts. In today’s world, where the arms race and strategic rivalries are intensifying, wars are no longer fought only on the battlefield but also in technological, cyber, and economic domains. In such an era, India’s policies of non-violence and non-alignment serve as a beacon for humanity.

India’s history is a history of peace and non-violence. Lord Mahavira proclaimed, “Ahimsa Parmo Dharma”—non-violence is the supreme religion. The Buddha spread his message of compassion and loving-kindness, envisioning the whole of Asia as a “zone of peace.” Mahatma Gandhi carried this legacy into modern politics, proving that even the mightiest empire could be overthrown through the power of truth and non-violence. This belief—that violence only breeds destruction and that peace alone brings lasting solutions—runs deep in India’s soul. Prime Minister Modi has revived this heritage at international forums. When the Russia–Ukraine war intensified in 2022, he firmly declared at the UN, G20, and BRICS that “this is not the time for war, but for peace, stability, and cooperation.” India understood this truth in time and conveyed to the world that “peace is the future, not war.” By integrating this into modern diplomacy, India has demonstrated that it thinks not only for itself but for the entire humanity.

Since independence, India has also followed the policy of non-alignment in global politics. During the Cold War, when the world was divided between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, India had the courage to assert that it would not become a satellite of any superpower. Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Yugoslavia’s Tito, and Egypt’s Nasser laid the foundations of the Non-Aligned Movement to keep nations away from the politics of war and open new paths for peace and cooperation. India’s policy of non-violence asserts that lasting solutions lie only in dialogue and peace. Its policy of non-alignment affirms that true strength lies in maintaining an independent perspective without becoming a subordinate of any bloc. Far from being merely idealistic, these policies have proved to be pragmatic diplomacy. When the world is divided into camps, India’s balanced stance alone keeps the hope of peace alive.

Today, as the West and Russia stand sharply opposed due to the Ukraine war, India has once again upheld this non-aligned vision. It has neither blindly supported the West nor unconditionally sided with Russia. Instead, it has identified dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path forward. Despite mounting U.S. and European pressure, India has refused to take a partisan stand. This is its greatest strength. The West wanted India to openly condemn Russia and impose sanctions, but India made it clear that its stance is not simply “neutral” but rather “peace-oriented.” India’s objective is not to stand against anyone but to bring everyone to the path of peace. This is why both Russia and Ukraine trust India and believe it can search for a solution without prejudice. The Russia–Ukraine war has once again proved that conflicts can never lead to lasting peace. Ultimately, adversaries must return to the negotiating table. India, by recognizing this reality, has given the world a timely message: “Peace, not war, is the destiny of humanity.”