Diplomacy through Stories

Well..... Like I always say - Diplomacy is so much more than what meets the eyes!

Surface level talks, negotiations, policy recommendations, ministerial visits etc. has its own place however, when it comes to fruitful discussions about collaboration and camaraderie it helps when two great nations share an insightful history!!!

India and South Korea - the relations are so much deeper and more profound than K-pop and Bollywood. Jaeil (Brasley) Byun Tyler Ha Sanghee Jeon ??? Loli Kim (???) Ian Yang Dongmi Choi although, our fascination with rice, spice and ice (along with larger than life romantic stories and toxic mother-in-law figures can not be ignored!!) Jinny Kim - I am sure you would agree too!!

The picture above is from GIMHAE, SOUTH KOREA. Dong Yon Kim ??? thank you for drawing my attention to the fact that it was in fact Princess Suryaratna (the Indian princess who married Emperor Kim Suro) who brought this to the Kingdom of Korea as a present!! Well, not many of my Korean Colleagues and friends know about this history so - here is my humble attempt to convey the meaning behind this!!! (all this is based on my personal exposure to Indian Sanskrit literature and my keen interest in the Indian heritage!)

1 - According to Panchtattva in Satvik Tantra (right handed Tantric path) the two fish represent the Ida?and?Pingala?Nadis, controlled through?pranayama. They are visualised as figure-of-8-shaped structures intertwining like two fishes. Pingala is the extroverted (Active), solar nadi, and corresponds to the right side of the body and the left side of the brain. Ida is the introverted, lunar nadi, and corresponds to the left side of the body and the right side of the brain. Think of this as the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems ... in order to live a life in balance with ourselves and Mother nature we must balance these as best as we can. The princess brought this to remind the King that she will help him in the journey to attain this balance.

2 - According to the Mahāsā?ghika (early Buddhist schools of thoughts that originated in India) The masculine and feminine energies are often represented as two intertwined fishes. The masculine is the doing and the feminine is the being energy. The yin and yang or Shiva and Shakti that is present in all of us regardless of gender or sexuality. The princess was reminding the King through this present that she will forever be the complementary feminine to his courageous masculine energy. The guiding companion in peace and the courageous comrade in war! (as lets face it .... marriage is hard and its not for the faint hearted!)

3 - According to historic folklore in Northern parts of India these have their origins in the two sacred rivers of India the Ganges and the Yamuna. So the intertwined fishes bring life and happiness, they also represent fertility and abundance as they multiply rapidly. The princess brought this to express her gratitude towards the King and the Kingdom of Korea (as she was warmly welcomed and lovingly accepted into the Royal Family)

So, apart from our national spirit, spirit of community, spirit of resilience - there is a profound history that we share!!!

I want to respectfully mention the Honourable Ambassador Amit Kumar and Yujin Han Ma'am - my warmest wishes to you for carrying the flame forward in terms of collaborations between the two great nations.

I am also tagging Antony Stokes LVO OBE as I enjoy your content on collaboration and confluence.

#confluence #diplomacy #historyandheritage