Towards the end of 18th century, Europe had experienced unprecedented economic growth, with a wealth that had rapidly surpassed figures of all other regions. Later, by the twentieth century, economists began to lose interest on studying impact of culture on economic growth and prowess internally and between regions, with the rise of ‘Asian tiger economies’ and the growing prevalence of data, which gave rise to more quantitative theories to study both markets as well as economic explanations of sociology. Culture signifies human emotions, which may not prevail over economic interests in today’s world, however there is little doubt that they make things easier even within two nations. When Britishers came to India around 275 years earlier, they just didn’t trade with the country, but established themselves by propagating their cultural elements like language and others, which without doubt helped them establish firmly here on the Indian soil.
The 21st century world however, embraces all theories. Economies around the world are exchanging cultural views and practices, now especially the digital way too and this is being done worldwide on personal, professional, religious, local, regional, inter-governmental and even International level. India, a land of diversity where people revere their cultural identities with utmost discipline and love, is gaining huge importance in modern global village.
Indian government gives more than 3500 scholarships annually to foreign students to study in India. ICCR sponsors various cultural programmes including dance, music, performing arts, fine arts, Yoga, seminars, exhibitions and study of languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil and Bengal in foreign lands. The efforts have deep significance not just in cultural and intellectual terms between two or more nations, but they also invariably facilitate economic relations between them by keeping wrangling at bay when it comes to going ahead hand in hand.
Organization of the ten-day mega Red Fort Festival – ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’ which was attended by foreign nationals, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is also something on this line. The event showcased the achievements of India and its rich culture. The government has also stepped up its efforts to bring back cultural artefacts from different countries. Where only 13 artefacts had returned to India in 46 years, now almost 228 artefacts have come to India in the last 7.5 years. During the inauguration of Biplobi Bharat Gallery at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata, PM Modi had highlighted India’s nationwide campaign to increase heritage tourism, which is being given impetus through several schemes like Swadesh Darshan, which will directly generate huge economic output.
India’s varied arts, sweets, monuments, history, food, artistry, languages, dialects and dance forms have started becoming popular in the digital age and the country is rightly building on the opportunity as the government encourages people to step up, with growing popularity of entrepreneurship, global networking, growing smart-city ecosystems, digital literacy and new innovative ways of cultural exchanges in a post social-distancing era. This unprecedented global cultural engagement is bringing prosperity from all sides.
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