PM Modi's 'must-read' book suggestion in Lok Sabha: All about 'JFK's Forgotten Crisis' and its links with Nehru

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Lok Sabha address on Tuesday said it has become fashionable to talk about foreign policy if one wants to appear mature. The comment is seen as a direct dig at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who on Tuesday, replying to the President's Address said that India's power asymmetry in global diplomacy is largely due to its missing heft in the manufacturing domain.

In a jocular tone, the Prime Minister categorically said that the reference was not for Congress leader and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor. Additionally, PM Modi said: "If one is truly interested in understanding foreign affairs and diplomacy, one must read the book--JFK's Forgotten Crisis: Tibet, the CIA, and the Sino-Indian War by Bruce Riedel.

JFK's Forgotten Crisis: Tibet, the CIA, and the Sino-Indian War by Bruce Riedel explores the 1962 Sino-Indian War and how it intersected with U.S. foreign policy under John F. Kennedy. The book highlights the CIA's covert operations in Tibet, American support for India during its conflict with China, and the broader Cold War dynamics at play. It argues that JFK was deeply involved in aiding India but had to balance this with the U.S.'s delicate relationship with Pakistan and China.

Jawaharlal Nehru, India's Prime Minister, miscalculated China's intentions, leading to a military debacle. Despite his policy of non-alignment, he sought U.S. and Soviet support when India faced defeat. Nehru's leadership during the crisis was criticized for being unprepared and overly reliant on diplomacy rather than military readiness.