While much of the world marked Easter weekend with traditions of celebration, a unique communion was underway in Delhi’s heart—a communion of ideas, not rituals. RakshaManthan 2025, a bold youth-led strategic dialogue hosted by think tank GeoJuristoday, brought together India’s foremost defence experts, diplomats, scholars, and over 250 young minds to forge a pathway toward Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Held inside an Army complex, the event replaced hymns with the hum of thoughtful discussion. The theme of the event revolved around the “Four Ds”: Defence, Dharma, Diplomacy, and Development—a framework not just for national growth but civilisational renaissance. GeoJuristoday’s approach exemplified how India’s youth can be key stakeholders in crafting the country’s security doctrine and global outlook.

The dialogue welcomed nearly 40 foreign embassies, with dignitaries from Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Bangladesh, transforming a national event into an international confluence of ideas. The exchange underscored India’s aspiration to not just participate in the global order but shape it.

Notable speakers included Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, former Minister of State for External Affairs, who passionately urged India to reclaim its strategic agency through active diplomacy, military strength, and economic independence. “The world’s key trade routes are clogged by straits controlled by OECD nations, due to historical errors. It’s time we corrected them through strategy, not sentiment,” she said.

Shri Shakti Singh, India’s Y20 representative and a former boxer, likened national security to the ring. “Offence is the best defence. That is true for boxing and true for India today. Our strategic assertiveness has prevented any major terrorist attack in the last decade,” he remarked, striking a chord with the youth.

Shri Sujan Chinoy, Chairman of MP-IDSA, provided a sobering view of global power shifts. “The current world order, born post-WWII, is now faltering under polarisation and inefficiency. It won’t collapse easily, but its cracks are visible.” He cautioned India to prepare for instability, reminding attendees that leadership in a turbulent world requires vision and values.

Nutan Kumar Mahawar of the Indian Council of World Affairs presented a metaphor for multipolarity: the global order as a house on uneven stilts. If one weakens, others must shoulder the burden until balance is restored—a call for collaborative strength and vigilance.

Maj Gen (Dr) BK Sharma, DG of USI, warned against losing moral ground in the chase for power. “If we resort to purely transactional diplomacy, we surrender our moral voice. India must lead with righteousness, not opportunism.”

More than anything, RakshaManthan 2025 stood out for empowering youth voices. Students questioned experts on emerging challenges like drone warfare, cyber geopolitics, and military ethics. Their curiosity marked a shift—India’s strategic future won’t be built behind closed doors but through inclusive, intergenerational dialogue.

As India marches toward 2047, RakshaManthan wasn’t just an event—it was a signal. A new strategic consciousness is rising, grounded in heritage, driven by youth, and aimed at global leadership that is wise, just, and strong.

While much of the world marked Easter weekend with traditions of celebration, a unique communion was underway in Delhi’s heart—a communion of ideas, not rituals. RakshaManthan 2025, a bold youth-led strategic dialogue hosted by think tank GeoJuristoday, brought together India’s foremost defence experts, diplomats, scholars, and over 250 young minds to forge a pathway toward Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Held inside an Army complex, the event replaced hymns with the hum of thoughtful discussion. The theme of the event revolved around the “Four Ds”: Defence, Dharma, Diplomacy, and Development—a framework not just for national growth but civilisational renaissance. GeoJuristoday’s approach exemplified how India’s youth can be key stakeholders in crafting the country’s security doctrine and global outlook.

The dialogue welcomed nearly 40 foreign embassies, with dignitaries from Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Bangladesh, transforming a national event into an international confluence of ideas. The exchange underscored India’s aspiration to not just participate in the global order but shape it.

Notable speakers included Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, former Minister of State for External Affairs, who passionately urged India to reclaim its strategic agency through active diplomacy, military strength, and economic independence. “The world’s key trade routes are clogged by straits controlled by OECD nations, due to historical errors. It’s time we corrected them through strategy, not sentiment,” she said.

Shri Shakti Singh, India’s Y20 representative and a former boxer, likened national security to the ring. “Offence is the best defence. That is true for boxing and true for India today. Our strategic assertiveness has prevented any major terrorist attack in the last decade,” he remarked, striking a chord with the youth.

Shri Sujan Chinoy, Chairman of MP-IDSA, provided a sobering view of global power shifts. “The current world order, born post-WWII, is now faltering under polarisation and inefficiency. It won’t collapse easily, but its cracks are visible.” He cautioned India to prepare for instability, reminding attendees that leadership in a turbulent world requires vision and values.

Nutan Kumar Mahawar of the Indian Council of World Affairs presented a metaphor for multipolarity: the global order as a house on uneven stilts. If one weakens, others must shoulder the burden until balance is restored—a call for collaborative strength and vigilance.

Maj Gen (Dr) BK Sharma, DG of USI, warned against losing moral ground in the chase for power. “If we resort to purely transactional diplomacy, we surrender our moral voice. India must lead with righteousness, not opportunism.”

More than anything, RakshaManthan 2025 stood out for empowering youth voices. Students questioned experts on emerging challenges like drone warfare, cyber geopolitics, and military ethics. Their curiosity marked a shift—India’s strategic future won’t be built behind closed doors but through inclusive, intergenerational dialogue.

As India marches toward 2047, RakshaManthan wasn’t just an event—it was a signal. A new strategic consciousness is rising, grounded in heritage, driven by youth, and aimed at global leadership that is wise, just, and strong.