Ambassadors of India’s cultural / soft power diplomacy
GMR 2020–Indian diaspora world’s largest (17.5 ml)—Considering its size, it is aptly said that ‘sun never sets in Indian diaspora’ (Gulf— 8.5 ml, USA – 4.4 ml)
Kugiel Patryk— India’s Soft Power : A New Foreign Policy Strategy—Highlights Sig of Diaspora in India’s soft power projection
History and Evolution
British rule—Indentured labourers to Africa, Caribbean etc (known as Girmitiyas).
Nehruvian phase—Policy of Dis-association—As Interference could offend host countries.
Rajiv Gandhi—Invited them to participate in nation-building—Sam Pitroda.
After C.W—Multiplex & Society centric world—so Diaspora—emerged as a strategic asset for IFP
Vajpayee— called for ‘partnership among all children of mother India’ + formalised engagement with diaspora by inst PBD
Importance of Diaspora:-
Building translational networks—Ireland & Portugese PM, Kamla Harris etc are of Indian origin.
Lobbying for India—For support during Kargil war, Pokhran & Civil Nuclear deal
Defence & security goals—Groups like Friends of India, Canada India Foundation (CIF) etc
Messenger of India’s soft power—Yoga, Bollywood
Source of Capital, Investment & Remittances
Modi’s Diaspora Doctrine
Policy of active Ass & intensive outreach with diaspora—Focused on amalgamating Scattered pieces of Indianess into formidable force
He calls diaspora as our ‘Rashtra doots’ And Informal & permanent ‘ambassadors’ for India.
Colour of Passport doesn’t matters, what is relevent is whether a person is Indian or not.
Addressed diaspora in diff parts of world—Madison Square, New York, Rwanda, Houston—Howdy Modi, Namaste Trump
Relaxation of visa norms, merger of OCI + POI , improving physical connectivity & EoDB
Critical Perspective
C.Rajamohan—Remain cautious—shd not be seen as intervening in domestic politics of any nation through diaspora.
Suhasini Haider— Re-analyses benefits accrued from diaspora’s political presence through a more realistic lens.
India’s Domestic faultlines—US Diaspora criticised CAA & Revocation of Art 370.
Anti globalization trends— Stricter visa rules
Sectarian conflicts, terrorism etc in Middle East leave our diaspora vulnerable to attacks.
