Buddhism, India’s Soft Power Projection Tool

Why in News?

• The Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation hosted a two-day global Buddhist summit in New Delhi.
• The summit was attended by significant key figures from the global Buddhist community including Dalai Lama.
• The event provided India with an opportunity to strengthen its soft power by connecting with the Buddhist population around the world.

 

What Efforts has India made so Far?

• The PM's emphasis on Buddha's teachings
  • The Prime Minister of India emphasised on the continuing relevance of the Buddha’s teachings in today’s world.
  • Against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine crisis “India has not given ‘Yuddha’ to the world but ‘Buddha’.”
  • The above statement resonates with his earlier statement made in front of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, that ‘this is not the era of war.’
• To give the world a new politics
  • The Delhi summit’s theme, “Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis”, also highlights India’s attempts to provide an alternative to contested global politics, with morality at its core.
• Development, Preservation and Restoration of Buddhist sites
  • The Indian government has been focusing on Buddhist Diplomacy by promoting tourism through the development of the “Buddhist tourist circuit.”
  • The Indian government hopes to demonstrate its commitment to preserving and promoting Buddhist culture and heritage, as well as strengthening ties with the global Buddhist community.

 

India's guiding principle and objectives behind its Buddhist Diplomacy

• Cooperation rather than Coercion
  • This concept is deep rooted in India’s historical and cultural ties to the region.
  • The current government’s guiding principles for foreign policy (Panchamrit Principles) include “Sanskriti Evam Sabhyata” which refers to culture and civilisation.

 

Through these efforts India wants:

• To become a responsible global power: India aspires to reinforce its image as a responsible power committed to peaceful coexistence and cooperation.
• To shape a discourse on global stage: With its strong historical and cultural ties to Buddhism, India is well-positioned to play a leading role in shaping the discourse around Buddhist issues on the global stage.
• To promote regional peace
  • Buddhist diplomacy has the potential to promote regional cohesion, given that nearly 97% of the global Buddhist population is based in Asia.
  • For instance, during the Cold War, China engaged with its neighbours using Buddhist Diplomacy effectively.

 

Challenges to India’s Buddhist Diplomacy:

• Despite being home to a number of key Buddhist sites, such as Bodhgaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar, India has struggled to attract Buddhist tourists, who tend to favour sites in Thailand and Cambodia.

 

China's factor

• As India and China compete to dominate the Buddhist heritage as a tool for soft power, India holds an advantage due to the faith’s origins in the country.
• However, China is actively seeking to exert control over the appointment of the next Dalai Lama, which would be a blow to India’s efforts to project its soft power through Buddhism.
• Also,China with its influence over Hollywood has completely dominated the narrative around Buddhism.

 

How can India overcome the challenges and counter China?

• The government should Promote Buddhism at the highest levels of government.
• To showcase country’s rich Buddhist history the government should organise cultural events.
  • The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) could play a significant role in promoting events within and outside India.
• India should work to strengthen ties with Buddhist countries and leaders.
• India needs to utilise the Bollywood’s reach to promote Buddhist heritage in India.
• India should use the G20 presidencyto promote Buddhist Diplomacy on a bigger scale through multiple cultural meeting; especially when the G20 motto “One Earth, One Family, One Future” aligns with Buddhist teachings.

 

Conclusion

• India recognises the importance of Buddhism as a means of conducting public diplomacy and has utilised it to its advantage.
• However, India has not used its Buddhist Diplomacy to its fullest potential. Therefore, India must act to ensure that it remains a key player in the global Buddhist community.
• As Buddha was the biggest preacher of peace, his teachings of peace and cooperation in these tough times can become the guiding light of Indian diplomacy on the world stage.

 

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Source: The Hindu