India has an abundance of factors that enhance its soft power. Our civilization and history of being one the oldest civilized societies in the world is generally favourably looked upon by others. Our colourful cultures, traditions, costumes, music and classical and folk dances all contribute to a vibrant and vivid picture of our country. Our architecture is unique. People travel the world to see our monuments, temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras and magnificent edifices of religious and cultural significance. From Ibn Batuta to Marco Polo to Mark Twain innumerable travellers over the ages have been enthralled by our culture and civilization. Mark Twain, the great American writer called India the cradle of the human race. From Alexander to the British, foreign invaders have sought to conquer and control this land and benefit from its riches. Throughout history this land has invoked a special kind of emotion in the hearts and minds of people.
India has lent spice to to the global culture and civilization. Our spices have been sought after for centuries. They have spurred voyages of discovery, trade and and conquest. Our culinary traditions have enhanced the global palate and fed its appetite. Indian food is popular around the world. Indian cuisine is an aromatic experience that titillates the nasal senses.
India also has contributed the fragrance of the world with ancient attars, incense and the floral essences. The smell of jasmine and sandalwood is all pervasive. The scents of India are captivating and pleasant.
From ancient times to the modern India has had a reputation of being a knowledge power. Our contributions to the sciences and mathematics have been remarkable. The zero is widely believed to be an Indian invention. In contemporary times the prowess of Indian software engineers is widely acknowledged in the emerging field of information technology. Recent advances in space exploration and satellite technology have kept abreast with the the most advanced countries of the world.
Indian spirituality is one of India's soft assets. India has been the birthplace of many of the worlds great religions. Not only Hinduism, India's dominant religion, but Buddhism and Sikhism have originated here. Other religions have coexisted here in harmony for centuries. Islam and Christianity have found a home here. Zoroastrianism has found a haven here. Sufi saints have thrived here. At its higher levels Hindu philosophy has encouraged the exploration of the limits of metaphysics with little dogma. India is known for its mysticism and asceticism. It is the source of yoga and many modern meditation disciplines. Some of the world's leading Islamic scholars come from India. Hindu mythology has influenced the cultures of many countries.These are all positive aspects of India.
Barring the occasional aberrant bout of irrational violence, communities belonging to different communities divided by religion and language have peacefully coexisted for ages. In spite of what others would have us believe, we have been a tolerant society. Modern India has managed to preserve a secular form of government that is more detached from religion than most Western ones. Although extremists from all sides have tried to make secularism a bad word, India can be rightly proud of its secular tradition.
Chaotic as it may look at times Indian democracy is alive and vibrant. It is a functioning democracy where governments are periodically changed according to the will of the people. It does have its faults and is certainly not perfect. Nevertheless it is a form of government many newly independent nations of the twentieth century were not able adopt or foster.
India has a rich journalistic tradition. Newspapers abound and are fiercely independent and do not fear to express their opinion freely. The press is free and critical as it should be in any society. Media platforms of all kinds abound in this country that likes to argue endlessly. Social discourse is boundless and unrestrained.
One of the legacies of a hated colonial past has been the English language. India has managed to retain the language and it has thrived here. Millions speak, read and write it well. As English is the language of business and international discourse, a large English speaking population is an asset to India.
One of India's soft power assets is its pop culture. Bollywood competes with Hollywood as a different cinematic experience that people in many countries around the world enjoy and find captivating. The Indian movie industry is colourful and entertaining. Many contemporary musicians such as A.R Rahman, Ilayaraja and Lata Mangeshkar are known internationally.
Although India is not a sporting power, in certain sports India does do well. Cricket, the sport legacy of the English colonial past is almost a religion in India. Indian cricketers do very well in the game and thanks to increased revenues from a cricket hungry population and experimentation with commercialization such as the Indian Premier League, India is emerging as a cricketing superpower. Some Indian players are beginning to do well in sports such as tennis and badminton and they are great ambassadors for our country abroad. Though not a physical sport, chess is a sport in which India is fast becoming a powerhouse.
India is blessed with a variety of natural geographical features. From the towering snow capped and glacier bound Himalayas to the North, home to the tallest mountains in the world to the tip of India at Kanyakumari India is beautiful country with amazing landscapes. Deserts in Rajasthan, tropical jungles teeming with biodiversity in the Western Ghats, beautiful beaches in Goa, verdant Kerala, the list goes on and on. Although under great pressure due to to a growing population and increasing urbanization beautiful natural spaces manage to survive in India.
India is also home to the Bengal tiger and the Indian rhino. Winter refuge to many northern bird species and home to a variety of tropical birds, India is a birders' paradise. Its wildlife, though endangered is rich and exciting.
The above description of India paints a picture of a civilized, benevolent, culturally rich, naturally beautiful, democratic, free, tolerant, spiritual nation of smart people, which is indeed true. Despite this we have for the most part failed to parlay these positive aspects into viable soft power. This is partly due to some serious negative attributes of this nation which drag us down. Those who would want to drag our reputation into the mud would accuse us of being an intolerant, violent, corrupt, unsafe and unclean country. Widespread and pervasive corruption, and sporadic, isolated but unspeakable acts of violence especially of the sexual kind directed at women have soiled our reputation. However the one thing that has dogged us forever and is totally inexcusable is the squalor of our public spaces. So much so, the mention of India conjures visions of garbage strewn streets, open defecation, open sewers and nauseating, suffocating stench in some minds. This is a liability for our country and needs to be addressed.
If we could only clean up our public places and spaces, we would enhance our soft power manifold. As our economy grows and our military power grows, this soft power would complement our hard power and influence in the world. Let us build an India that is looked up to by other nations and people around the world. Let us be a powerhouse of good and goodwill in the world.
Barring the occasional aberrant bout of irrational violence, communities belonging to different communities divided by religion and language have peacefully coexisted for ages. In spite of what others would have us believe, we have been a tolerant society. Modern India has managed to preserve a secular form of government that is more detached from religion than most Western ones. Although extremists from all sides have tried to make secularism a bad word, India can be rightly proud of its secular tradition.
Chaotic as it may look at times Indian democracy is alive and vibrant. It is a functioning democracy where governments are periodically changed according to the will of the people. It does have its faults and is certainly not perfect. Nevertheless it is a form of government many newly independent nations of the twentieth century were not able adopt or foster.
India has a rich journalistic tradition. Newspapers abound and are fiercely independent and do not fear to express their opinion freely. The press is free and critical as it should be in any society. Media platforms of all kinds abound in this country that likes to argue endlessly. Social discourse is boundless and unrestrained.
One of the legacies of a hated colonial past has been the English language. India has managed to retain the language and it has thrived here. Millions speak, read and write it well. As English is the language of business and international discourse, a large English speaking population is an asset to India.
One of India's soft power assets is its pop culture. Bollywood competes with Hollywood as a different cinematic experience that people in many countries around the world enjoy and find captivating. The Indian movie industry is colourful and entertaining. Many contemporary musicians such as A.R Rahman, Ilayaraja and Lata Mangeshkar are known internationally.
Although India is not a sporting power, in certain sports India does do well. Cricket, the sport legacy of the English colonial past is almost a religion in India. Indian cricketers do very well in the game and thanks to increased revenues from a cricket hungry population and experimentation with commercialization such as the Indian Premier League, India is emerging as a cricketing superpower. Some Indian players are beginning to do well in sports such as tennis and badminton and they are great ambassadors for our country abroad. Though not a physical sport, chess is a sport in which India is fast becoming a powerhouse.
India is blessed with a variety of natural geographical features. From the towering snow capped and glacier bound Himalayas to the North, home to the tallest mountains in the world to the tip of India at Kanyakumari India is beautiful country with amazing landscapes. Deserts in Rajasthan, tropical jungles teeming with biodiversity in the Western Ghats, beautiful beaches in Goa, verdant Kerala, the list goes on and on. Although under great pressure due to to a growing population and increasing urbanization beautiful natural spaces manage to survive in India.
India is also home to the Bengal tiger and the Indian rhino. Winter refuge to many northern bird species and home to a variety of tropical birds, India is a birders' paradise. Its wildlife, though endangered is rich and exciting.
The above description of India paints a picture of a civilized, benevolent, culturally rich, naturally beautiful, democratic, free, tolerant, spiritual nation of smart people, which is indeed true. Despite this we have for the most part failed to parlay these positive aspects into viable soft power. This is partly due to some serious negative attributes of this nation which drag us down. Those who would want to drag our reputation into the mud would accuse us of being an intolerant, violent, corrupt, unsafe and unclean country. Widespread and pervasive corruption, and sporadic, isolated but unspeakable acts of violence especially of the sexual kind directed at women have soiled our reputation. However the one thing that has dogged us forever and is totally inexcusable is the squalor of our public spaces. So much so, the mention of India conjures visions of garbage strewn streets, open defecation, open sewers and nauseating, suffocating stench in some minds. This is a liability for our country and needs to be addressed.
If we could only clean up our public places and spaces, we would enhance our soft power manifold. As our economy grows and our military power grows, this soft power would complement our hard power and influence in the world. Let us build an India that is looked up to by other nations and people around the world. Let us be a powerhouse of good and goodwill in the world.
