Of all the amendments that need to be made to foreign policy, expunging the harmful myth of non-alignment from the vocabulary of Indian diplomacy should be the starting point for today’s visionaries. Such ambitions cannot be achieved without a more astute policy toward the world’s most powerful nation.

The event was particularly germane and received special attention in lieu of the contentious reform measures announced by the Congress-led government over the past week, including a decision to raise the limit on foreign investment into Indian retail. The backdrop of faltering economic growth in India and stalled economic reform mandate lent an air of urgency.

The world is seeing the beginning of an Asian arms race with global implications. India could have chosen to test this missile anytime, but it appears that India is trying to reflect its emergence onto the world stage and show everyone that its strength is equal to that of its neighbor — not necessarily competing with China — but proving itself.