For human civilisation, what could lie beyond the currently unfolding 5th Industrial Revolution? Culture, and economics of Culture, are surely going to be at the core of these discussions. As India is rapidly evolving its innovation, adaptation and large scale implementation capabilities, it surely is in the spotlight as a potential steward and guide to the rest of the world due to its rich cultural heritage. India’s soft power comes out of its moral, ethical and cultural values.
It was India’s moral authority that inspired it to give shelter to Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in 1959. India’s principled boycott of South Africa for its racist Apartheid policies, which Gandhi had started in late 19th century, won it respect from post-colonial states across Africa and rest of the world. In 1971, when India, despite overwhelming opposition from America and the UN, intervened in East Pakistan, which resulted in the formation of the independent state of Bangladesh, this urge came out of its moral and spiritual authority only, which it espoused and nurtured for thousands of years.
Observance of International Day of Yoga is the latest feather in India’s hat, thanks to the persistent efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government at the Centre. This celebration has not only boosted Yoga’s popularity over the years, but also expanded its geographical presence by inspiring its adoption across the length and breadth of the world. Last week, Argentinian federal police decided to effectively use the techniques of Yoga for stress management of its personnel. Yoga is truly considered to be India’s greatest modern gift to the world. The Ministry of Ayush has also been striding forth to establish yoga’s curative and calming impacts and trying to integrate it with diverse disciplines in order to promote psycho-physiological well-being of the people across the globe.
When Natalie Di Luccio, an Italian-Canadian classical-crossover singer from Toronto sings Bollywood hit songs- ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ and ‘Pehla Nasha’, Luo Ping- a Chinese TV reality show Super Idol 13’s contestant sings ‘Tujh main rab dikhta hai’, a US school chorus decides to sing a superhit Tamil song ‘Balleilakka Balleilakka’ from the hit movie ‘Sivaji’ at a yearly event, Ary- a Canadian girl sings ‘Kolaveri’ sung by Tamil superstar Dhanush, a Turkish boy sings the famous ‘Awara Hoon’ song from Raj Kapoor’s movie in a reality show and when Dubai appoints Shahrukh Khan as its ambassador — they are not just an aberration or eccentricity, but adequately exemplify how India’s ever rising soft power, amply bolstered by rich and age old moral, spiritual and cultural value system, is being embraced all across the globe.
Much before Yoga, Ayurveda, Bollywood and others became a craze almost across the globe, Indian spirituality had reached several countries. Buddhism spread in various countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, China, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia and other Southeast Asian and Central Asian countries more than two thousand years earlier. India’s universities continue to attract even today a large number of students from especially developing countries. Indian food is also equally popular around the world. India has an excellent track record of leveraging its culture, spiritual, educational, political values and distinct foreign policy for national objectives while taking care of the entire world with the ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
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