From Sapru House to Shadow Play: The ICWA’s Struggle for Relevance in a World of Diplomacy In the grand theater of international diplomacy, where nations pirouette around each other, attempting to sway the audience of global opinion, there lies a quaint little establishment known as the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). Founded in the tumultuous year of 1943, amidst the hopeful whispers of freedom from colonial shackles, the ICWA was envisioned as a beacon of independent thought and critical analysis. Fast forward to today, and one cannot help but feel a pang of sorrow mixed with a hearty chuckle at its transformation from a bastion of academic independence to merely a shadow play in the sprawling edifice of governmental diplomacy. Housed in the stately Sapru House, named after the esteemed Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, the ICWA has long mistaken itself for an influential player in the field of international relations. One might envision it as a wise sage, draped in the robes of scholarly wisdom, pontificating on matters of global consequence. Instead, it often resembles a hesitant actor fumbling through a script, perpetually in search of its next line, much to the amusement of the real players at the diplomatic table. The irony, of course, is palpable. Once a darling of intellectual thought, proud in its allegiance to the ever-so-righteous cause of Indian independence, the ICWA now finds its identity tethered to the whims of the Ministry of External Affairs. More of an echo chamber than a think-tank, it seems to rally behind governmental narratives rather than challenging them. Dotting its pages are policy papers that occasionally glimpse enlightenment, only to be swiftly overshadowed by the monolithic forces of bureaucratic inertia. This is not to say that the ICWA lacks aspiration. It has become a dedicated gardener, lovingly tending to the weeds of foreign policy discourse while leaping at the slightest hint of approval from the Ministry. The awkward dance it performs, oscillating between the noble quest for intellectual rigor and the subservient role of a government appendage, often leaves its audiences befuddled. Is it a beacon of hope for independent scholarship or a mere shadow puppet, dancing on strings pulled by political puppeteers? In a world overrun with formidable players—think tanks that boast of unprecedented influence and academicians who engage in often theatrical debates—the ICWA has become the lovable underdog, forever grasping at the tailcoats of more illustrious institutions. While think tanks in Washington DC and Brussels thrive on the currency of their ideas, the ICWA is left scrambling for recognition like a street performer, cheekily hoping someone will toss it a coin or two in the form of actual policy impact. Its attempts at hosting high-profile conferences and discussions often seem like school plays where children put on elaborate costumes, punctuated by awkward pauses and stilted dialogue. “Yes, we have international experts!” they proclaim, dragging in foreign dignitaries who, with forced enthusiasm, parade through Sapru House without a clue about its relevance to the broader currents of global politics. As if under an unspoken agreement, these events morph into mere photo ops, with smiling faces but little substance. As India rises in the global arena, one might expect the ICWA to position itself as a significant contributor to discussions shaping the future of international relations. Instead, it often masquerades as an appendage of the Indian government’s foreign policy endeavors. The seriousness with which it approaches its work dances dangerously close to performance art—an artist expressing desire through an ensemble of half-hearted policy reviews, draped in the hope that somebody, anybody, might take notice. The sad irony is that within its walls lie countless scholars, thinkers, and policymakers brimming with potential. But rather than emerge as thought leaders, they undertake the Sisyphean task of pushing the boulder of relevance uphill, only to watch it roll back down the moment they dare to speak an uncomfortable truth. Like a fading star in an ever-expanding universe, the ICWA stretches for light, while shadows loom larger, exemplifying the ongoing struggle of a once-prominent institution trying to locate its place in a world that moves effortlessly without it. In a final act, the ICWA will find itself at a crossroads. It can either step boldly into its rightful legacy as a genuinely independent intellectual hub or continue to languish in the background, providing quiet applause to the grand performance of foreign policy orchestrated by others. Until then, from Sapru House to shadow play, the ICWA remains trapped in its bittersweet ballet—a delicate dance of aspirations masked by a poignant reality, leaving audiences to wonder not if the curtain will fall, but when.