A few years ago when I entered the world of strategic analysis, I had an enduring complaint. I always felt people in India, even the better educated ones, had no idea about strategic matters and no interest either. They were content to pursue their individual activities happily with the knowledge that there was someone else out there who was responsible to look after their security.

The strategic culture of India, in my opinion, was so poor and the ignorance on issues of geopolitical and geo-strategic affairs so profound that I wondered whether people read beyond the newspaper headlines.

Not any longer. Things appear to have turned around in public perception and it’s largely because of media—print, electronic and social.

How does this thought emerge in my mind? As a public speaker and a self-styled thought leader, a few years ago I stepped out boldly to see how much perception I could change. My talks have taken me to schools, colleges, military academies, civil services training institutions, high profile companies, corporate organisations and even private informal fireside chats with intellectuals from all walks of life.