"India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi went on a charm offensive in the US. Som and Uday discuss what this means for India's foreign policy, that is, if it means anything at all. But more importantly, how India might be using a civilisational approach to her diaspora.

In his Independence speech, Modi also announced the creation of the role of a Chief of Defence Staff - a recommendation of the Kargil War Committee from 2001. The history of this role, though, goes much deeper. Lord Mountbatten wanted India to continue to have a Commander-in-Chief, but the politicians of the day scuttled it. Is the CDS a C-in-C's new avatar or will it be a watered down post in an environment of single service primacy? "