Came across a viral WhatsApp forward of mega block bluster movie, Pushpa song played on European streets. This trend which was unimaginable a few decades ago is now a reality. Thanks to globalisation, the dissemination of “culture, values and policies” are transgressing boundaries in this interconnected world. In terms of International Relations, the significance of this- triad of culture, values and policies which constitute the soft power is now widely acclaimed. Underscoring the importance of this triad, scholars like Joseph Nye Jr, postulated – “Soft power diplomacy”, and envisioned alternate statecraft that is devoid of the use of military assets. Understandably, the soft power comprised all aspects except military and economic power.
In short, all the intangible resources that can aid in agenda-setting
and realise policy goals constitute the soft power assets. India has numerous
soft power assets. Since assuming power,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been actively using these assets to shape foreign
policy objectives. By pro-actively deploying these assets, Modi is increasingly
creating awareness about India’s ideological perspectives which is inclusive
and legitimate to generate goodwill and respect in the global arena. Unlike the
hard power that coerces and intimidates, soft power attempts to persuade
countries to do something. Though soft power takes a very long time, it is one
of the most effective means of accomplishing desired objectives.
Blessed with an incredible heritage, culture and civilisational
strengths, India is endowed with a panoply of assets to promote its national
interests. In this conflict-ridden world, amid the burgeoning geopolitical
uncertainties, resurgence of revisionist powers, while hard power can
exacerbate the existing fissures, persuasive soft power can be highly effective
in realising foreign policy goals. Having bequeathed an illustrious national
culture, Modi has been parallelly marshalling the hard power and soft power
assets as required to enhance its global stature.
Shifting focus to diaspora, multicultural ethos like
Buddhism, Sufism, attributes like non-violence, tolerance, diversity,
pluralism, diverse languages, traditional wealth such as Ayurveda, Yoga,
civilisational connect of Ramayana, Mahabharata, spiritual movements etc, Modi government
displayed a vigour to pursue a soft power policy. India shares a common thread
of religion, culture, civilisation with its immediate neighbourhood. Since the 1990s
a latent tendency to use soft power has been witnessed. But the kind of rigour
and conviction to unleash it as a policy has been missing for decades.
India that is Bharat, considered as a land of knowledge, has
been a treasure trove. Much of the wisdom coded in our Vedas and Upanishads
replete of universal values and encapsulated diversity largely was never
channelised to bolster India as a global soft power. Since 2014, the Modi
government has been instrumental in popularising the noble concepts scripted in
Upanishads “vasudaivakutumbakam” (the world is one family) which is
found in the Maha Upanishad and has become one of the popular paradigms to
define the ideological positioning of India on global platforms. Similarly, the
peace mantra from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad “sarve bhavantu sukinah, sarve
santu niramaya” (May all be healthy; May all be free from illness) became
the tagline of India’s Vaccine Maitri program and “ekam sat vipra bahuda
vadanti” (there one truth the learned call it by many names) from Mundaka
Upanishad, has been generously quoted to reiterate India’s celebration of
diversity.
Indeed, in the past eight years, Modi has conscientiously accentuated
multiple attributes of India. Designation of June 21st as
International Yoga Day is a recognition to India’s knowledge system, emergence
of Ayurveda as a viable alternative especially during the pandemic and
culminating in the establishment of WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine demonstrated
Modi government’s focus on cultivation of soft power.
Striking a right balance between the soft power and hard
power and shedding the recalcitrance to use cultural diplomacy, Modi began to
reshape foreign policy with soft tools. Contrastingly, while China continued to
sweep the World with its “charm offensive” by setting up hundreds of Confucius
Institutions, having underutilised and under cultivated soft power tools, India
failed to get its due at various global forums.
Unabashedly flaunting the religious and cultural identity of
India, Modi ensured that the Indian identity finds a place in the larger realm
of bilateral relationships as well. The case in point has been PM Modi
attending the Ganga Aarti alongside Japan President Shinzo Abe at Banaras and a
brief visit to Swaminarayana Akshardham temple in New Delhi with Australian
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Aside the quintessential interactions with the
Indian Diaspora, a visit to Hindu Temples have been an integral part of PM
Modi’s itinerary.
On his foreign travel to Oman, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh
and Nepal, Modi visited famous Hindu temples and prayed at Gurudwara in Tehran;
Buddhist Monasteries in Bhutan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka driving home the message
of India’s veneration towards all religions- Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and
Sikhism that originated in the country.
Invoking the shared cultural connect, Modi visited Sri Lanka
in May 2017 as the chief guest for International Vesak Day, which marks the
birth, enlightenment and demise of Buddha to resuscitate traditional ties.
Giving a fillip to cultural ties and connectivity, Modi announced the launch of
direct Air India flights between Varanasi and Colombo. Varanasi, (Sarnath) is
the place where Buddha first delivered his sermon. Bolstering the cultural
connect, Modi also prayed at the golden-roofed famous Kandy temple where the
tooth relic of Buddha was preserved. Unveiling a bus service between Janakpuri
in Nepal to Ayodhya in India, Modi ambitiously integrated Nepal into the
Ramayana Circuit. Additionally, Modi has allocated funds for the development of
Pashupati Nath Temple and the construction of dharmshala for pilgrims.
In a marked departure from the reluctance of earlier
leadership to honour the legacies integral to India, the Modi government adopted
a strategic approach towards soft power resources. In 2015, then EAM Sushma
Swaraj delivered a keynote address at the 16th World Sanskrit
Conference held in Bangkok in Sanskrit and underlined the contemporary
importance of the ancient language. Thwarting the criticism of Modi’s Hindu
leanings, India revitalised ties with Central Asia on the strength of shared
Islamic Heritage.
Bolstering the cultural connect, Modi travelled to Lumbini,
in Nepal, the birth place of Buddha on the eve of Buddha Jayanti to perform
shilanyas of India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage. UPA
government in 2011, expressed interest to develop Lumbini given its cultural
and strategic importance. Lumbini is very close to Indian border. With China
making fresh inroads into the Himalayan country, India mooted this plan. While
India dilly-dallied, China announced $3 billion project to develop Lumbini.
Motivated by political interests, China built an airport at Lumbini and
announced a rail connecting Tibet to Nepal passing through Lumbini.
A decade later, PM
Modi laid foundation for a Net Zero Emission state of art India’s Buddhist
Centre in Nepal joining countries like Thailand, Vietnam, US, China, Myanmar,
Japan, South Korea and others. Reinforcing India’s centuries old cultural
connect, Modi travelled to Lumbini from Kushinagar in Bihar and landed at a
helipad in Lumbini to deliberately avoid touching down at the airport built by
China. Kushinagar is the place where Buddha attained nirvana. Along the lines of
Ramayana Circuit, Modi government which has launched Buddhist circuit in 2016
with plans to develop prominent sites- Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali,
Sarnath, Shravasti, Kushinagar, Kaushambi, Sankisa and Kapilavastu1
is keen on including Lumbini as a prominent stop.
At a time when India-Nepal ties are roiled by territorial
disputes and mistrust, before embarking for Nepal, PM Modi said, “Our ties
with Nepal are unparalleled. The civilisational and people to people contacts
between India and Nepal form the enduring edifice of our close relationship. My
visit is intended to celebrate and further deepen these time-honoured linkages
that have been fostered through centuries and recorded in our long history of
inter-mingling”.
Lighting lamps near Ashoka pillar adjacent to Maya Devi
Temple and post foundation laying ceremony performed by leaders of Theravada,
Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, Prime Ministers of both countries unveiled
the model of the Indian centre. Addressing a large gathering of monks and dignitaries,
Modi said, “From Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, and Kushinagar in India to Lumbini in
Nepal, these holy places symbolise our shared heritage and shared values. We
have to develop this heritage together and enrich it further. This common
heritage, common culture, common faith and common love, this is our greatest
asset. The richer this asset is, the more effectively together we can bring the
message of Lord Buddha to the world and give direction to the World…the
ever-strengthening friendship of India and Nepal and our closeness will serve
the benefit of the entire humanity”2.
Having said, “Our Ram is also incomplete without Nepal”
at Janakpur, Modi assured support to power generation projects in Nepal. Leaders
held bilateral talks as a follow up of discussions on April 2nd to
strengthen cooperation in trade, development, energy and connectivity partnerships.
Countries signed six MoUs, of which five agreements are on collaborative
Buddhist studies and construction of hydropower project Arun-4 by Sutlej Jal
Vikas Nigam (SJVN)3. Leaders agreed to establish sister cities’
relationship between Kushinagar and Lumbini.
For all its invaluable soft power assets, India failed to
develop influential institutions which could make a dent in global public
opinion. Besides, a lackadaisical approach, the absence of persistent efforts has
pushed India down the ladder against China, which has built a global brand
value. Indian Council for Cultural Relations has been no match to the
astounding number of China’s Confucius Institutes that mushroomed across the
globe.
But China’s aggressive posturing has irrevocably tattered its
projected image of peaceful rise. In the face of rising revisionism and
authoritarian regimes, while the importance of hard power is highly rated, Modi
is carefully leveraging soft power to enhance India’s global standing.
Consistently underscoring the democratic credentials, Modi is trying to reinvigorate
India’s identity by harnessing our country’s civilisational values.
Alongside enhancing the hard power, the Modi government is
striving to ameliorate India’s global image by employing soft power advantages.
Through sustained efforts, Modi has been shaping India’s soft power imagery.
More than ever, the political dispensation is confident of building India as a
global soft power. The cumulative efforts to project its ancient cultural,
religious and civilisational connect attest to the same.
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