At the Mangaluru Lit Fest on January 11, 2025, former RAW Director Vikram Sood delivered an impactful session titled “Art and Craft of Building and Dismantling Narratives,” moderated by Prashanth Vaidyaraj, Editor of Samvada World. Held at the TMA Pai Convention Hall, the session addressed India’s strategic challenges amidst its rise as a global economic power.
Sood emphasized that as India advances toward becoming the third-largest economy, narratives crafted by Western powers will intensify to curb its growth. These narratives, he argued, are not coincidental but are deliberate attempts to challenge India’s economic rise and claim over resources traditionally dominated by the West. Using examples such as the discourse surrounding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Article 370, Sood suggested that such narratives are designed to create internal discontent, slowing India’s developmental trajectory.
The Structure of Narratives
Sood provided a detailed framework on how narratives are built to influence global opinion and policy. He identified key elements:
- Information Control: Shaping perceptions through selective dissemination of facts.
- Emotive Appeal: Targeting cultural and social sensitivities to polarize communities.
- Repetition and Amplification: Using media, academia, and social platforms to continuously propagate the narrative.
- Crisis Creation: Framing a situation as a crisis to justify international interference or scrutiny.
He stressed the importance of a proactive approach, urging India to craft counter-narratives that reflect the country’s cultural ethos and developmental aspirations. “No country should be considered a permanent friend; we must use our tools to preserve our sovereignty,” Sood said. He appreciated the government’s steps toward retaining digital data domestically, recognizing it as a key component in safeguarding against narrative manipulation.
The Role of Youth
Earlier, during the festival’s inauguration, acclaimed writer S.L. Bhyrappa urged the youth to engage deeply with national issues. He called for introspection among organizers, asking if the fest had successfully mobilized young minds toward nation-building. The session reinforced the critical role of youth in combating misinformation and participating in narrative-building through informed dialogue, digital activism, and creative pursuits.
Navigating the Future
India’s strategic position in a rapidly shifting global order makes it a prime target for influence campaigns, Sood noted. He called for unity among citizens to counter these efforts, emphasizing resilience and self-reliance. The fusion of traditional Indian values with modern tools of narrative building, he suggested, could redefine India’s global identity while protecting its sovereignty.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where Sood highlighted that a united populace, equipped with knowledge and critical thinking, is India’s greatest asset in navigating challenges and asserting itself on the world stage. The Mangaluru Lit Fest 2025 thus served as a call to action for both leaders and the youth to engage actively in shaping India’s narrative on the global platform.
Shrivara Mahajan 
Satish Chogule